Portugal vs. Spain: A match to remember

Portugal and Spain leave Fisht Olympic Stadium with a point apiece after their six goal thriller.

It was end to end action as Portugal and Spain played a memorable match ending in a 3-3 draw in Sochi. Cristiano Ronaldo’s individual brilliance cancelled out Diego Costa’s brace and Nacho Fernández’s screamer to give Portugal a point in their opening match of Group B.

It was one of the most anticipated matches of the group stage and one of the most entertaining World Cup matches in recent memory. Spain overcame a 2-1 deficit to take the lead in the second half before Cristiano Ronaldo completed his hat-trick with a free-kick goal in the dying minutes of the match.

It only took Portugal three and a half minutes to take the lead over Iberian neighbors Spain. Referee Gianluca Rocchi awarded Portugal a penalty after defender Nacho Fernández tripped Ronaldo inside the box. The Portuguese captain easily converted his penalty to put his side up 1-0.

Spain leveled the score in the 24th minute. Diego Costa dribbled through his opponents found some space, took his shot that zoomed pass goalkeeper Rui Patricio and into the back of the net. It was a great individual effort from the Atlético Madrid forward.

Portugal regained the lead right before halftime thanks to a blunder by goalkeeper David De Gea. Ronaldo put his shot on frame that sped along the ground, De Gea had time to get down on one knee to block it, but the ball went through his fingers, hit his leg and went in at the right post.

Spain responded with an equalizer ten minutes into the second half. On a free kick David Silva put the ball into the box, finding Sergio Busquets who headed the ball back on goal allowing Diego Costa to tap it in. It was a nice finish off a well executed set piece.

Spain’s domination of possession paid dividends just three minutes later as Nacho’s bullet of a shot swerved through traffic, pinged the far post and into the back of the net. Fernandez’s goal is already an early contender for goal of the tournament.

With time running out, it looked certain Spain were leaving with all three points. But the final word would go to Ronaldo.

Awarded a free kick just outside the box in the dying minutes of the match, Ronaldo took matters into his own hands. The 33-year-old curled the ball around the wall leaving De Gea motionless and no chance of saving it. The Portuguese captain completed his hat-trick and salvaged a draw for his team. Ronaldo became the oldest player to score a hat-trick in World Cup history, and the first player to score in eight consecutive major tournaments.

It was a memorable night in Sochi, and to think this is only Matchday 1 in the group stage. Portugal return to action on June 20th against Morroco, while Spain take on Iran that same day.