Cristiano Ronaldo finished with a hat-trick as Portugal settled for a 3-3 draw with Spain on Friday at the 2018 World Cup in Sochi.
Ronaldo found the back of the net twice in the first half before adding one more in the second to lift his country from the jaws of defeat. The 33-year-old Ronaldo also became the oldest player to convert a hat-trick in a World Cup game.
Back-And-Forth Game
It was the start Portugal dreamed of as Ronaldo was awarded a penalty by one of the referees following a non-foul from Nacho. Ronaldo calmly converted the penalty in the fourth minute to put the Portuguese up 1-0. That goal also marked Ronaldo's first made goal against Spain.
The Spaniards kept their composure and continued to pressure the defense of the Portuguese in the next sequences. Spanish midfielder Andres Iniesta created the first chance for his country as he slipped a pass to David Silva whose shot went wide in the 20th minute.
The pressure defense paid golden dividends for Spain a few minutes later as Diego Costa squeezed past an array of defenders to sneak in a goal in the 24th minute and tie the game at 1-apiece. Spain was close to taking the lead when Isco unleashed a rocket that hit the crossbar and almost hit the entire goal line.
Eager to take the momentum heading into the locker room, Ronaldo converted a goal over the outstretched arms of goalkeeper David de Gea in the 44th minute. Portugal took the lead at halftime 2-1.
Spain showed some fighting resistance early in the second as Costa converted on a beautiful set piece in the 55th minute to even things up at 2-2. Nacho added another one three minutes later off a free kick from Silva to put Spain ahead 3-2. It was also Nacho's first goal in international competition.
Costa almost converted another goal in the 70th minute after receiving a pass from Jordi Alba. Nonetheless, Costa's shot went wide. Just when the Spaniards were ready to close the door on Portugal, the Real Madrid star made sure that he had the last say as he was able to draw a foul from Gerard Pique late in the game.
Ronaldo displayed nerves of steel as he fired a free kick in the 87th minute that penetrated the Spanish defense to even the score at 3-3. It was also Ronaldo's first career hat-trick in the World Cup.
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