MAGICAL. UNSTOPPABLE. GODLIKE.
Cristiano Ronaldo's stunning hat-trick earned Portugal a dramatic 3-3 draw in their Group B opener against Iberian neighbours Spain.
2018 World Cup
3-3
Match Events
4' Penalty Goal! Portugal 1-0 Spain (Cristiano Ronaldo)
PENALTY TO PORTUGAL! Nacho brings down Ronaldo on the charge and the referee does not hesitate to point to the spot.
GOALLLLLLLLLL!!!! 1-0 PORTUGAL!!!
Ronaldo keeps his composure against De Gea, lifting his effort into the net. The Selecao skipper sends De Gea the wrong way with a fine finish from 12 yards. What a start for the European champions.
10' CHANCE! Silva's shot over the bar
OVER! Alba's cross finds its way to Costa in the middle and he knocks the ball towards David Silva on the edge of the box. The Manchester City midfielder pulls the trigger on a right-footed shot, only to blast his effort over the bar.
24' GOAL! Portugal 1-1 Spain (Diego Costa)
GOALLLLLLLLL!!!! COSTA EQUALISES FOR SPAIN 1-1!!!
Spain are back on level terms as Costa controls a long ball forward before firing a precise effort past Patricio into the bottom corner. The forward does it all himself as he fends off a challenge from Pepe before seeing off Fonte with ease.
With his right foot he drills an effort into the bottom corner to notch the equaliser. A brilliant strike.
26' Isco's extraordinary strike is denied by crossbar!
OFF THE BAR!! Spain come within inches of the lead as Isco launches a volley from the edge of the box. His effort beats Patricio all ends up, but strikes the underside of the bar and bounces clear.
Isco pleads with the referee for VAR, but the technology would have provided the immediate answer for the official. Replays show that the ball did not cross the line.
44' GOAL! Portugal 2-1 Spain (Cristiano Ronaldo)
GOALLLLLLLLLLL!!!!! RONALDO SCORES 2-1!!!! A HORROR SHOW FOR DE GEA!!!
Portugal regain the lead on the stroke of half-time as Ronaldo's strike squirms through the legs of De Gea into the net. It was a shot out of nothing from the edge of the box after Guedes teed up his captain for the strike.
His effort was a low and hit with power, but it should have been a comfortable save for the Manchester United keeper. De Gea allowed it through him and Portugal have the lead.
55' GOAL! Portugal 2-2 Spain (Diego Costa)
GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!! COSTA EQUALISES AGAIN 2-2!!!
Spain are back on level terms for the second time in the match as Costa strikes from close range. David Silva's neat free-kick picked out the run of Busquets at the back post and he headed the ball across the face of goal. Costa was the first man react to turn it home into the net. Game on.
58' GOAL! Portugal 2-3 Spain (Nacho)
GOALLLLLLLL!!!! SPAIN TAKE THE LEAD!!! NACHO SCORES A STUNNER 3-2!!!!!
Hierro's men have completed the turnaround as Portugal fail to clear their lines on the edge of the box. Nacho seizes on the loose ball and drills an effort at goal on the half-volley.
He catches it crisply and it flies towards the target, striking the inside of the post before nestling into the bottom corner. What a comeback from Spain in the second half.
88' GOAL! Portugal 3-3 Spain (Ronaldo)
GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!! RONALDO!!!!! 3-3!! IT'S BRILLIANT!!!!
Ronaldo completes his hat-trick with a sensational effort from the free-kick. It appeared too close to go over the wall, but he found a way. He lifted his effort over top of the leaping figures of Ramos and Pique. The ball had enough curl and dip to find the top corner, leaving De Gea with no chance. What a performance from the Portugal captain.
93' Ronaldo falls to the ground and Ramos offers a helping hand
Match Report
Cristiano Ronaldo's stunning hat-trick earned Portugal a dramatic 3-3 draw in their Group B opener against Iberian neighbours Spain.
Spain led with three minutes to go after Nacho Fernandez hit a wonderful 25-yard drive but Ronaldo was determined to steal the headlines for himself.
And he ended the day with a World Cup match-ball after hitting an outrageous late free-kick to ensure the spoils were shared in this blockbuster clash in Sochi.
Captain Ronaldo had given Portugal a fourth-minute lead from the penalty spot after he was fouled by Madrid team-mate Nacho, restoring the lead thanks to David de Gea's horrible mistake.
Diego Costa replied twice to get the 2010 champions level, with Nacho's beautiful goal having seemingly settled a high-class encounter at the Fisht Stadium.
Ronaldo, though, had other ideas and stepped up to beat De Gea again with a perfect 20-yard free-kick, almost snatching all three points with a stoppage-time header.
Line-ups
Portugal XI: Cristiano Ronaldo, Pepe, José Fonte, Rui Patrício, João Moutinho, Cédric Soares, William Carvalho, Raphael Guerreiro, Gonçalo Guedes, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva
Subs: Ricardo Quaresma, Bruno Alves, Manuel Fernandes, Adrien Silva, Beto, Anthony Lopes, Mário Rui, André Silva, João Mário, Ricardo Pereira, Gelson Martins, Rúben Dias
Spain XI: Sergio Ramos, Andrés Iniesta, David Silva, Gerard Piqué, Jordi Alba, Diego Costa, Sergio Busquets, David De Gea, Isco, Nacho, Koke
Subs: José Reina, Nacho Monreal, César Azpilicueta, Iago Aspas, Thiago Alcántara, Rodrigo Moreno, Daniel Carvajal, Saúl Ñíguez, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Lucas Vázquez, Álvaro Odriozola, Marco Asensio