WORLD CUP 2018: Portugal vs Spain, Match 4, LIVE

Absolutely exceptional match! This was billed as best match of tournament, and it proved it! Ronaldo took centre st with hat-trick, but for most parts, it looked Spain were likely winners.

Ronaldo's 4th minute penalty was canceled out by Diego Costa's opener. But on stroke of half time, Ronaldo scored his second, gave Portugal 2-1 le.

In second half, Spain were much better team, and were dominating possession. y scored two goals within three minutes to take a 3-2 le. Costa equalized from a routine free-kick, before Nacho scored an absolute stunner. But Ronaldo h last laugh, as he scored a sublime free kick in 87th minute to salv a point for his team. 
 

FULL TIME: Portugal 3-3 Spain
 

90' + 2': Chance for Ronaldo, but he hes it wide. Quaresma puts in a cross from left, but Portugese captain fails to connect. 
 

90' + 1': Four minutes ded on. And Portugal have a corner! 
 

87': GOAL! What a free-kick from Ronaldo. De Gea can just stand and watch. Hat-trick for genius. Portugal 3-3 Spain
 

86': And it indeed is Silva. Manchester City man ends his shift, and will be replaced by Real Mrid winger. FREE KICK FOR PORTUGAL! Ronaldo is fouled by Pique at edge of area.
 

85': Lucas Vazquez rey to come in as final change for Spain. He is expected to replace Silva.
 

82': Spain are playing around Portugal as if it's a training regime. y are stringing passes toger, and t letting opposition come near m.
 

80': Ar change for Portugal, ir final. Striker Andre Silva comes in for Guedes. 
 

77': Two-goal hero Diego Costa leaves field, with applause from fans. Iago Aspas comes in for him.
 

75': Brilliant bit of skill from Thiago to turn defense into attack, but ball is back with Portugese.
 

73': Spain are at ir best again. y keep ball, pass it from one side to ar, and frustrate Portugal. 
 

71': Brilliant move by Spain, but Costa can't apply finishing touch. Spain move ball in midfield, and find Alba free on left side. He cut backs ball for Costa, but his shot is wide.
 

69': Both teams make ir change. Quaresma comes in for Silva, whereas for Spain, Thiago comes for Iniesta. And crowd gives an ovation for former Barcelona midfielder.
 

68': Portugal make substitution, and w Spain are rey to make irs. Thiago is rey to come on.
 

66': Mario has to wait, as ball is yet to go out. In between, Portugal keep ball, but are unable to create a chance.
 

64': Portugal are preparing a change as y look to recover from shock. Joao Mario is rey to come in, presumably in place of Bru Fernandes.
 

62': And w Spain are showing sensibility, trying to slow down play. But Ramos concedes a corner after a rash clearance.
 

58': GOAL! A stunner by Nacho gives Spain le. Portugese defense is unable to clear ball, and it lands to right-back, who hits a thunderous volley into back of net.
 

55': GOAL!  free kick is put in box by Silva, which is heed back across goal by Sergio Busquets. Costa is re to tap it in. Portugal 2-2 Spain.
 

54': Free-kick for Spain from 30 yards out, after some quick feet from Iniesta. Silva is over it, though, doesn't seem he will take an effort on goal.
 

51': Pass and pass and pass and pass. That's what Spain are doing, hoping to catch Portugese defense off guard with a killer pass.
 

49': Bru Fernandes has an effort from 30 yards out, but its well wide. It all stems from Iniesta losing possession in his own half.
 

47': Spain have early possession in half, but thing threatening so far. Silva is caught offside as y try to penetrate Portugese defence.
 

Portugal get second half underway!
 

Players have come back to field!
 

What a first half, phew! Ronaldo gave Portugal best possible start, scoring within first four minutes. But Spain hit back, and equalized through a solo effort from Diego Costa. Soon after, Isco hit bar as 2010 Champions dominated match.

But in 44th minute, a howler from de Gea allowed Ronaldo to score his second goal. An uphill task awaits for Spain in second half.
 

Half time: Portugal 2-1 Spain
 

44': GOAL! Ronaldo has an effort from egde of box, which should be easily saved by de Gea. But Manchester United goalkeeper makes a mess of it, and allows Portugal to take le. It's all against run of play.
 

42': Effort from Isco with his left foot from edge of area, but its a comfortable save for Rui Patricio.
 

41': After a brief spell of possession for Portugal, ball is back with Spanish team. 
 

39': Silva swings ball into box, but Busquets, under some pressure, hes ball way over.
 

38': Corner for Spain, conceded by Pepe. Alba on Spain's left is looking a huge threat.
 

37': Ronaldo looks absolutely frustrated w. After first 15 minutes, he has failed to receive ball, with his team playing more long balls w.
 

35': Spain absolutely at ir best w. y string numerous passes toger, before ball falls to feet of Iniesta in Portugese box. His shot is just wide of post.
 

32': It's all Spain w in terms of possession. Portugal can't seem to get ball, as Spain are doing what y kw best - keep ball.
 

30': Poor effort from Manchester City midfielder, hitting at straight at wall. Portugal need to regroup w, because y are being dominated!
 

28': Free kick for Spain in a dangerous position, after Bru Fernandes caught Nacho very hard. YELLOW FOR BRU! Silva to take it.
 

26': OFF BAR! What an effort from Isco, but ball hits bar and bounces back. Spain are dominating w!
 

24': GOAL! Diego Costa equalizes for Spain after a brilliant solo effort. He was against four Portugese defender, but mand to fool everyone and score. Game on!
 

22': From Spanish corner, Portugal break, and are 3 on 2 in attack. Ronaldo passes to Guedes, but youngster fluffs his lines.
 

21': Corner for Spain. Some neat play down left side gets Iniesta free in box. His cuts it back to Silva, whose shot is deflected for a corner
 

20': Spain just haven't been up for it till w. y have passed ball around, but aren't able to find killer move. Costa looks devoid of options.
 

18': YELLOW FOR BUSQUETS! holding midfielder is cautioned after he loses ball near his penalty box, and fouls. Ronaldo to take it, but it hits wall! Free-kick was anyway awarded to Spain for pushing going on in wall.
 

16': A brilliant break from Portugal, but in end wasted. Ronaldo plays a brilliant pass in his own half to Guedes, which opens up Spanish midfield. youngster though, takes too much time on ball, and attack breaks.
 

14': Surprisingly, Ronaldo is playing like a .10, dropping in deep to help his midfield at times. This is something which he rarely does at Real Mrid.
 

12': Spain are basically playing 3-7 formation, with Sergio Busquets dropping alongside Ramos and Pique, and full backs joining midfield.
 

10': Chance for Spain! A good cross in box by Isco is brought down by Costa. Silva is first to it, and takes an effort from his right foot, but shot is well above.
 

7': That early goal has kcked stuffing out of Spain. y have ball w, with Portugal happy to sit back deep.
 

4': PENALTY FOR PORTUGAL! Ronaldo does a step over, and beats club teammate Nacho, who sticks out a leg. GOAL! Ronaldo dispatches penalty with ease for his 82nd career international goal!
 

2': Spain get us undergoing, but its Portugal with early possession and dominance. Ronaldo with a couple of skills!
 

KICK OFF!
 

players have me ir on to pitch.
 

Can y do it?
 

Less than 30 mins to go before big encounter kicks off!
 

Expected this starting XI from Portugal, with Ronaldo leing line.
 

Spain have anunced ir starting XI, and re is a surprise exclusion of Thiago!
 

game is also between two creative players. Manchester City teammates will turn foes today. Which Silva will come out on top?
 

Will Ronaldo be able to recreate this piece of magic? 
 

Relief for Ronaldo ahe of match, all legal proceedings against him in tax fraud case to be closed.
 

Ahe of huge match, let's take a look at key battles which will have an impact on game.
 

st is set for biggest match of group st round. It's PORTUGAL vs SPAIN. What a contest it will prove out to be. Cristia Ronaldo taking on Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique. Andres Iniesta aiming to weave his magic against Portugese back line.   

So this is it! World Cup is back after four long years. This edition is being played in Russia. tournament commences on June 14, and will conclude on July 15. Hosts Russia will play first match against Saudi Arabia.
 

Defending champions Germany are on of favorites to retain ir crown, though, y will face stiff competition from 2010 champions Spain, 1998 winners France and five-time champions Brazil. While se three teams are expected to win, likes of Argentina, Portugal and England are outsiders to take home trophy.

While se are teams expected to win trophy, re are three 'black horses' for tournament.
 

1. Belgium: re is a very strong reason to consider Belgium as favorites, but it's way too early for that. team mand by Roberto Martinez has many outstanding players like Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, Thibaut Courtois and Kevin de Bruyne. quality in ir midfield is second to ne. Yet, y are Spain or Germany. growth of Belgium has begun only in recent time, and its fair to say t many within team would actually believe y go till end. Though, it won't be wrong to say given quality y have, a surprise is very possible.
 

2. Croatia: y are arguably in Group of Death, yet, Croatian team will feel extremely confident of passing group st comfortably. That is a very minimum which team should dream of, given y have likes of Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic, Ivan Perisic and Mario Mandzukic. quality in ir midfield is particulary good, and that might make m dream of winning trophy. But in all honesty, that is improbable.
 

3. Uruguay: y were dark horses back in 2010, y are dark horses in 2018 as well. re is denying quality y possess. Well, t many teams can say y have two world class defenders in Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez, and two strikers in Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani. Yet, beyond se four players, re isn't much quality. good thing for Uruguay though is fact y can claim to have easiest group, with Russia, Saudi Arabia and Egypt as ir opponents. A qualification from group sts should be all but confirmed, and with four world class players, you can put a cent on m doing unthinkable.
 

A couple of teams have suffered off field issues ahe of extravaganza. Spain saw a change in ir he coach, as Fernando Hierro took over from Julen Lopetegui, who was sacked on Wednesday following his decision to sign a contract with Real Mrid on Tuesday.
 

Germany also have been hit by an issue to couple of ir players. Mesut Ozil and Ilkay Gundogan have been caught in controversy following ir decision to take a picture with Turkish President earlier this May.

It sparked outr within ir country, with a section of fans booing Gundogan and Ozil during Germany's friendlies against Austria and Saudi Arabia. ir manr, Joachim Low though, came out in ir support, and criticized fans for ir reaction towards ir players.