FIFA Club World Cup 2023™

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Friday 14 May 2021, 17:00

Ronaldo illuminates stellar draw with Spain

  • First crunch match of Russia 2018 lives up to expectations

  • Hat-trick for Ronaldo, brace for Costa​

  • RELIVE: As it happened, stats, press conferences and more

Team reporter analysis Raquel Branco with Portugal [Follow: Twitter] The Portuguese could not have wished for a better start, or a better ending for that matter. Spain made them work hard for a well-earned point, which came courtesy of a classy treble from the best player in the world.

Antia Andre with Spain [follow: Twitter] Spain impressed on Fernando Hierro’s debut in the dugout, coming from behind only for Cristiano Ronaldo to spoil De Gea’s evening. The midfield excelled and though Costa’s double and Nacho maiden goal for his country were not enough to secure three points, they can take plenty of satisfaction from the result, as can the Portuguese.

Budweiser​ Man of the Match Who else could it be but Cristiano Ronaldo? The Portugal captain ensured a share of the spoils in a match that Spain dominated, becoming only the third Portugal player to score a World Cup hat-trick after Eusebio at England 1966 and Pauleta at Korea/Japan 2002.

The stat 3 - Ronaldo opened the scoring from the spot with only three minutes and 30 seconds on the clock, the third fastest penalty in the history of the World Cup. Only Dutch duo Johan Neeskens and Robin van Persie have scored quicker spot-kicks, the former after 87 seconds of the Final against West Germany in 1974 and the latter after two and a half minutes of the match for third place against Brazil in 2014.

What’s next Iran-Spain, Group B, 20 June, Kazan Portugal-Morocco, Group B, 20 June, Moscow

Have your say Portugal fans (PT) | Spain fans (ES)

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