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FIFA World Cup 2018: Ronaldo scores hat-trick against Spain as WC lifts off

"We've shown that if we work together as one unit, like we've been doing, then anything is achievable and it won't come as a shock," he said

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Portugal's forward Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring his hat-trick during the Russia 2018 World Cup Group B football match between Portugal and Spain at the Fisht Stadium in Sochi. Pic/AFP

Portugal's forward Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring his hat-trick during the Russia 2018 World Cup Group B football match between Portugal and Spain at the Fisht Stadium in Sochi. Pic/AFP

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a magnificent hat-trick on Friday to rescue a point for Portugal against Spain in the dying minutes as the World Cup in Russia caught alight. Ronaldo's 51st career hat-trick in the 3-3 draw cancelled out two goals from Diego Costa and a strike from Nacho just as Spain looked like putting their chaotic week behind them with a morale-boosting win. Elsewhere on day two of the tournament in Russia, Egypt left out Mohamed Salah and suffered a gut-wrenching 1-0 defeat in the final minutes to Uruguay, while Iran snatched a last-gasp win against Morocco courtesy of an own goal. But the unquestioned match of the day came in Sochi, where Ronaldo stamped his brilliance on the Group B clash between Portugal and a Spain side aiming to bounce back from the shock sacking of coach Julen Lopetegui this week.

Lopetegui's hastily-appointed successor, Fernando Hierro, watched from the sidelines as his team edged ahead 3-2 in the second half after twice battling back from behind. Ronaldo opened the scoring in the fourth minute from a penalty that he himself won and struck again on the cusp of half-time when Spain goalkeeper David de Gea failed to make a routine save. Both times Atletico Madrid's Costa equalised and Spain took the lead through Nacho in the 58th minute, who struck the ball sweetly past Portugal goalkeeper Rui Patricio. Spain appeared to be in control in the closing stages but when Ronaldo was awarded a free kick on the edge of the area the stadium held its breath. The Real Madrid man took his time lining up the shot before delivering emphatically, curling the ball past the despairing dive of De Gea. "I am very happy, it's a nice personal record to have, one more in my career," said Ronaldo after becoming only the fourth player in history to score in four consecutive World Cups. "For me the most important thing is to emphasise what the team did against one of the favourites to win this World Cup."

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