SOCHI, RUSSIA (June 15, 2018) — Cristiano Ronaldo and Diego Costa know each other well.
The two have faced off many times in the Spanish league, La Liga. Costa has been a member of Atlético Madrid three times, from 2007-09, 2010-14 and was recently signed in 2018.
Ronaldo scores hat trick in Portugal’s 3-3 draw against Spain
Meanwhile, Ronaldo has been with Real Madrid since 2009.
The two strikers are no stranger to big competition and a rivalry. However, on the World Cup stage, the setting is much different — and both players know that.
In Sochi, Ronaldo and Costa found the back of the net twice. It was a matter of, “Who’s next?” and “Your move, Ronaldo or Costa.”
Ronaldo found the back of the net first in the fourth minute on a penalty kick. The foul was conceded by Spanish right back defender Nacho.
Then, it was Costa who equalized the match. Costa took a right-footed shot in the center of the box, sending it right past Portuguese goalkeeper Rui Patrício.
However, right before the halftime whistle blew, Ronaldo fond the back of David de Gea’s net. Ronaldo blasted the shot, which bounced off de Gea’s knee and went right into the net. In the second half, Costa would find another equalizer in the 55th minute.
However, that wasn’t Spain’s saving goal.
Instead, Nacho, making up for his conceding penalty kick, scored the game-winning goal three minutes after Costa’s second equalizer. The shot was blasted from the left side of the box, completely catching Patrício off guard.
In typical Ronaldo fashion, the striker wasn’t settling for a loss. Instead, Ronaldo earned a free kick in the 88th minute, sending a strike right past de Gea. Spain and Portugal ended the match with a draw, each claiming one point.
What. A. Game.
Cristiano Ronaldo scores a hat-trick as Portugal and Spain share the point. pic.twitter.com/6piUn89PmL
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 15, 2018
A Close Battle
Spain held the possession count through the entire match, finishing with a 66 percent possession count. Portugal held the ball for 34 percent of the match.
However, the shots were relatively close.
Portugal sent nine shots around the pitch the entire match, putting three on goal. All three that went on goal resulted in finishes for Ronaldo. Meanwhile, Spain recorded 13 shots, sending six on goal.
Patrício made three saves.
The two sides were also about even on corner kicks. Spain had five corner kick attempts while Portugal finished with four corner kicks.
Take a bow, Cristiano Ronaldo. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/pJwSByuz5y
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 15, 2018
Looking At Group B
With the draw, Iran is on top of Group B.
Iran narrowly won their match over Morocco with a stunning stoppage time own goal from Morocco’s Aziz Bouhaddouz. Meanwhile, Spain and Portugal each earned a point with the draw.
All four teams in Group B will return to action on June 20. First up, Portugal will take on Iran at 8 a.m. ET. Then, at 2 p.m. ET, Spain will take on Iran, the group leaders.
UNBELIEVABLE STRIKE FROM NACHO! 😱
The defender makes up for his early mistake with a beauty to put Spain ahead 3-2. pic.twitter.com/r6Zokn9mQ5
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 15, 2018