Dubai: Spain and Portugal served up a pulsating World Cup classic at the Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi on Friday night, a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick saving his side from what looked like certain defeat.
Diego Costa started in attack for new Spain coach Fernando Hierro’s first match since after the dramatic sacking of Julen Lopetegui in the Group B showdown with neighbours Portugal.
Ronaldo captained the European champions Portugal and we did not have to wait long before he was in the spotlight.
The Real Madrid star was fouled inside the area by Nacho and, while there was not much in it, contact was made and referee Gianluca Rocchi pointed to the spot.
Ronaldo dusted himself down and sent goalkeeper David De Gea the wrong way to put Portugal in front after only four minutes.
Undeterred, Spain slowly came into the game more and more and found their preferred passing game helping them make inroads into the Portuguese area.
After 21 minutes, David Silva should have equalised but mis-hit his shot on the turn. But the Spaniards were soon level thanks to a brilliant solo goal from Costa.
He picked up the ball, beat Pepe, who went to ground too easily, fended off two defenders and fired low past Portugal goalkeeper Rui Patricio.
Isco could have had Spain’s second after 29 minutes but he was denied by the crossbar after a rasping shot that came down on the goalline and bounced clear.
Next it was Iniesta’s turn, who saw his shot just sneak past Patricio’s far post, and then Isco, trying to add to his tally of 10 goals for Spain, saw his shot safely gathered by the keeper.
From nowhere, Portugal stunned the dominant Spaniards right before the break. De Gea looked to have a low left-footed shot from Ronaldo covered, but the Manchester United keeper let it slip through his gloves and off his foot into the net.
Spain had to fight back all over again after the interval and they came flying out of the blocks.
More tiki-taka passing and patient build-up paid dividends when Costa got on the end of a drifted David Silva free-kick and bundled home. The referee checked with VAR for a possible infringement but the goal stood and Spain were level again.
And soon they were in front for the first time in the game. Nacho completed his redemption for that earlier foul on Ronaldo when he found himself in space as the ball came out to him from the Portugal area. He hit a first-time screamer that went in off the post for his first goal in Spanish colours.
Just when it looked like Spain had secured all three points, that man Ronaldo did what he does best, firing home a trademark free-kick in the 87th minute to rescue a point for his relieved Portuguese teammates.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo reached a deal with Spanish prosecutors in his tax-evasion case, agreeing to a fine and a prison sentence, though he is unlikely to serve any time because he is a first offender.
The news was reported on Friday by Spanish newspaper El Mundo just hours before Ronaldo and Portugal were set to take the field against Spain.
The Real Madrid star was accused by Spanish authorities of evading €14.7 million in taxes between 2011 and 2014.
He will pay a fine of €18.8 million but likely will not head to prison because, under Spanish law, first-time offenders who are sentenced to less than two years may serve their time on probation.
The 33-year-old forward, one of the world’s best and highest-paid players, denied the allegations.
