World Cup 2018: Recapping Portugal and Spain's epic 3-3 tie

Nick Birdsong

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World Cup 2018: Recapping Portugal and Spain's epic 3-3 tie image

The bar has been set. 

Led by Cristiano Ronaldo's hat trick, which was highlighted by an insane free-kick goal in the 87th minute, Portugal rallied from down a goal to tie Spain 3-3 in what surely will go down as one of the greatest group-phase matches in World Cup history.

Diego Costa scored the first two international goals of his career and Spanish defender Nacho added another on a long-distance strike in the second half.

If the rest of the World Cup is anything like this, we'll all be in for a treat.

Recap the entire contest via SN's live blog below. 

WORLD CUP 2018: Spain vs. Portugal preview, players to watch, key stats 

Portugal vs. Spain, TV channel and live stream

In the U.S., Spain vs. Portugal aired live on Fox and was live-streamed on fuboTV (sign up for a free seven-day trial). 

Portugal vs. Spain: Score, highlights 

Final: Portugal 3, Spain 3 

Second half 

87 — Oh, my goodness! 

Cristiano bends an absolutely beauty of a free kick around Spain's wall past David de Gea to make a hat trick on the day and tie the score at 3-3. 

86 — Spain's David Silva is subbed off. 

77 — Diego Costa is taken off with two goals for Iago Aspas .

70 — Spain makes a substitute, taking midfielder Andres Iniesta out and bring on Thiago. 

68 — Portugal makes its substitiosn of the game, taking off midfielders Ricardo Quaresma and Bruno Fernandes and  for Joao Mario and Bernardo Silva . 

58 — Spanish defender Nacho lines up a screamer and belts it past Portugal goal keeper Rui Patricio. Just like that, Spain leads 3-2. 

55 — That's two for Diego Costa. The Atletico Madrid man slides past a defender and guides a teammate's header into the goal to even the score at 2-2. 

Halftime

Portugal leads 2-1 at the half behind a pair of goals from Cristiano Ronaldo (4', 44'). Portugal has possessed the ball for just 32 percent of the game but has connected on both of its shot attempts on goal. Diego Costa added his first World Cup goal in the 24th minute to put Spain on the scoresheet. Spain has taken nine shots but just three have been on target. 

First half

44 — Momma. There. Go. That. Man!!! Cristiano Ronaldo scores his second goal of the game from dead center and Spain goalkeeper David de Gea can't handle the one-hopper. Portugal leads 2-1.

34 — Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta narrowly misses a chance to put his team ahead with a goal off a beautifully played ball by Jordi Alba. 

24 — Spain's Diego Costa beats a pair of Portuguese defenders with some nifty moves and then delivers an absolute screamer past Portugal's goalkeeper, going top left shelf to even the score at 1-1. 

21 — Spain's David Silva misses a left-footer inside the box wide left that could've been the equalizer . 

4 — Cristiano  Ronaldo blasts a penalty past Spain goalkeeper David de Gea, going right corner for the 82nd international goal of his illustrious career. It sure didn't take him long to make his impact on the game. Portugal leads 1-0.

3rd minute — Cristiano Ronaldo draws a penalty while maneuvering just inside the left part of the block against Spain defender Nacho. 

Portugal vs. Spain notes 

(Via Opta) 

  • Spain have now won their opening World Cup match in just two of their last 13 tournaments (D4 L7 – 2002, 2006).
  • Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player in history to score in eight consecutive major tournaments (World Cup, European Championships and Copa America).
  • Portugal talisman Cristiano Ronaldo is just the fourth player to score in four different World Cup tournaments (2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018) after Pele, Uwe Seeler and Miroslav Klose.
  • Spain conceded after just three minutes and 30 seconds – it was the fastest goal they’ve ever conceded at the World Cup.
  • This match produced six goals, more than the previous four meetings between Portugal and Spain at major competitions (Euros and World Cup) combined (four goals).
  • Spain striker Diego Costa scored with his first two shots on target at the World Cup.
  • Spain conceded a penalty goal in the 4th minute, just the fourth time a penalty had been scored inside the opening four minutes of a World Cup game.
  • Diego Costa has scored eight goals in his last eight international starts for Spain.
  • Cristiano Ronaldo is the oldest hat-trick scorer in World Cup history, with the Portuguese star aged 33 years and 130 days – the previous oldest was Rob Rensenbrink in June 1978 for the Netherlands against Iran (30 years, 335 days).
  • Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo netted his 51st hat-trick for club and country, while it was also the 51st hat-trick scored in the history of the World Cup.
  • Cristiano Ronaldo’s third goal of the match was his first direct free-kick goal at a major tournament for Portugal – it was his 45th attempt from a free kick.

Portgual starting XI

Spain starting XI

Nick Birdsong