Portugal and Spain played a pulsating match at Sochi but shared points after the high-voltage tie that saw Cristiano Ronaldo score a hat-trick and Diego Costa net a brace for Spain ended in a 3-3 draw.
#FifaWorldCup18 | #Por vs #Esp : It ends 3-3 at Sochi after an absorbing, exciting and enthralling game of football. Ronaldo with a hat-trick, Diego Costa with a brace for Spain in the Group B tie. #WorldCup #PORESP
— NEWS LIVE (@NewsLiveGhy) June 15, 2018
That was ridiculous.
Take a bow @selecaoportugal and @SeFutbol, what a game! #PORESP pic.twitter.com/G3HdXdlK93
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 15, 2018
The Group B showdown lived up to all expectations right from the word go as talismanic Portuguese captain Ronaldo opened the scoring for the 2016 European champions, converting a penalty after he was brought down inside the box by Nacho within three minutes from start of play.
#FifaWorldCup18 | #Por vs #Esp : Penalty for Portugal inside 3rd minutes after Cristiano Ronaldo was brought down inside the box. And their talismanic captain scores from the spot to give the 2016 European champions the lead. It's#Por 1-0 #Esp #WorldCup #PORESP
— NEWS LIVE (@NewsLiveGhy) June 15, 2018
Former Chelsea striker Diego Costa equalised in the 24th minute. But a costly error from Spain’s goal-keeper David de Gea helped Ronaldo score his second of the match just before half time.
#FifaWorldCup18 | #Por vs #Esp : Ronaldo scores his second, with some help from de Gea, to give Portugal the lead once again.#Por 2-1 #Esp #WorldCup #PORESP
— NEWS LIVE (@NewsLiveGhy) June 15, 2018
The scorecard remained 2-1 in favour of the Portuguese after the end of the first forty-five minutes.
#FifaWorldCup18 | #Por vs #Esp : It's half time at Sochi and Portugal lead Spain 2-1 at the break. Ronaldo the star of the first 45 minutes.#WorldCup #PORESP
— NEWS LIVE (@NewsLiveGhy) June 15, 2018
However Brazil-born Costa levelled the scores yet again in the 55th minute while Nacho scored his maiden goal for ‘La Roja’ three minutes later to give Spain the lead.
#FifaWorldCup18 | #Por vs #Esp : Diego Costa levels it for Spain yet again. It's #Por 2-2 #Esp#WorldCup #PORESP
— NEWS LIVE (@NewsLiveGhy) June 15, 2018
#FifaWorldCup18 | #Por vs #Esp : Spain now take the lead, Nacho with a sublime finish in the 58th minute. It's #Por 2-3 #Esp#WorldCup #PORESP
— NEWS LIVE (@NewsLiveGhy) June 15, 2018
Portugal once again looked up to their Real Madrid star and he responded with a brilliant free kick that curled and whizzed past de Gea and into the back of the net.
#FifaWorldCup18 | #Por vs #Esp : Magical free-kick from who else but Cristiano Ronaldo. He scores a stunner to draw level and also complete his hat-trick. It's #Por 3-3 #Esp#WorldCup #PORESP
— NEWS LIVE (@NewsLiveGhy) June 15, 2018
In the other matches of on Friday, Uruguay overcame a ‘Salah-less’ Egyptian team 1-0 to take all three points after Jose Giménez’s 89th minute winner at Ekaterinburg.
#FifaWorldCup2018 | #Egy vs #URU : It's all over as #Uru take all three points after Giménez's 89th minute winner at Ekaterinburg.
Full-time score: #Egy 0-1 #Uru #WorldCup #EGYURU— NEWS LIVE (@NewsLiveGhy) June 15, 2018
Iran became the first Asian team to register a victory in the World Cup finals since Japan’s victory in the 2010 world cup after Morocco’s Bouhaddouz scored an own goal in stoppage time at St. Petersburg.
#FifaWorldCup18 | #Mar vs #Irn : Bouhaddouz own goal in stoppage time gives #Irn a 1-0 win over #Mar .#WorldCup #MARIRN
— NEWS LIVE (@NewsLiveGhy) June 15, 2018
TODAY’s Matches:
#FifaWorldCup2018 : Today's Matches
1. #FRA vs #AUS – Group C
Kazan Arena Kazan (15;30 IST)
2. #ARG vs #ISL – Group D
Spartak Stadium Moscow (18:30 IST)
3. #PER vs #DEN – Group C
Mordovia Arena Saransk (21:30 IST)
4. #CRO vs #NGA – Group D
Kaliningrad Stadium Kaliningrad (00:30) pic.twitter.com/ipVWSfPtJw— NEWS LIVE (@NewsLiveGhy) June 16, 2018
