Page 20 - ARUBA TODAY

A20 SPORTS
Saturday 16 June 2018

SPAIN they make it much easier,"
Continued from Page 17 Hierro said.
Nacho Fernandez then put It was an exciting start to
the Spanish ahead with one of the group-stage's
a one-timer from outside most anticipated matches
the area in the Group B and it didn't take long be-
match.Ronaldo became fore Ronaldo struck first.
the fourth player to score Ronaldo made a nice ste-
in four World Cups, joining pover move to get past
Pele, Miroslav Klose and Fernandez, his Real Madrid
Uwe Seeler. He also be- teammate, and was fouled
came the first Portuguese at the edge of the area. He
player to appear in four then calmly sent his shot to
World Cups, and at 33 be- the right corner as De Gea
came the oldest player to went the other way.
score a hat trick in tourna- As Ronaldo returned to
ment history. midfield for the restart, he
He used his first goal to send and Fernandez appeared
a message to the world in to exchange words, and
an apparent reaction to the Portuguese star smiled.
Adidas' "GOAT" promotion "It's always great to have
with Lionel Messi, featuring somebody wonderful play-
the Argentine with a real ing like that," Portugal
goat. Ronaldo and Messi coach Fernando Santos Morocco's Aziz Bouhaddouz, 20, scores an own goal during the group B match between Morocco
have split the last 10 player said. "I'm glad he's Portu- and Iran at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the St. Petersburg Stadium in St. Petersburg, Russia,
of the year awards. guese." Friday, June 15, 2018.
"I've said it so many times, Portugal threatened on Associated Press
Cristiano is the best in the counterattacks as Spain
world," Portugal coach Fer- struggled to get near Rui complained, Rocchi point- which defeated Morocco twice getting ahead with
nando Santos said. Patricio's goal, but a great ed to his watch, which re- 1-0 earlier Friday. goals by Ronaldo. It was
Ronaldo downplayed his long pass by Sergio Bus- ceives goal confirmations. Spain, trying to rebound the star striker who saved
sixth international hat trick. quets allowed Costa to Ronaldo's second goal from disappointing elimi- the team from defeat with
"To me, the most important even the match. The striker came after a blunder by nations at the 2014 World his late equalizer.
(thing) is to highlight what collided with Pepe and De Gea, who let the ball Cup and the 2016 Europe- Spain: The Spanish looked
the team has done," Ron- used several neat moves bounce off his hands and an Championship, will next lost after conceding the
aldo said. to clear other defenders into the net after a routine face Iran, while Portugal early goal to Ronaldo, but
Spain looked to have suc- before firing a low shot into shot from outside the area plays Morocco. Costa's strike helped Hier-
cessfully overcome its dra- the corner from inside the just before halftime. KEY TO SUCCESS ro's team settle down and
matic coaching change area. Busquets and Costa com- Portugal: The team has even the match.
one the eve of the tourna- Portugal loudly com- bined for Spain's equalizer been able to succeed Spain struggled to contain
ment but Ronaldo curled a plained Costa had fouled in the 55th. After a cross recently because of its Portugal's counterattacks,
late shot from about 25 me- Pepe, and replays showed by Andres Iniesta, Busquets steady defense, but this but it showed it remained
ters (yards) over the wall. there was contact by the headed the ball back time it was not able to hold a solid team despite Lop-
The ball went into the top Spaniard's arm with Pepe's across the area and Costa on to its early leads despite etegui's absence.q
corner as Spain goalkeep- body. Referee Gianluca touched it into the open
er David de Gea watched. Rocchi allowed the play to net.
The Spanish federation fired continue. Three minutes later, Fer-
coach Julen Lopetegui for Portugal wanted the play nandez redeemed himself
accepting a job with Real to be reviewed, and Roc- for the penalty on Ronaldo
Madrid without letting it chi at one point put a hand with a streaking shot after a
know in advance. Hierro, to his ear, apparently indi- ball cleared by the defense
a former player acting as cating the assistant refer- got deflected toward him.
Spain's sporting director, re- ees didn't see a clear error. The ball struck the post be-
placed Lopetegui and was Goal-line technology fore going into the goal.
on the bench despite no came into play a few mo- GROUP DYNAMICS
significant previous coach- ments later when a Fran- The teams arrived in Rus-
ing experience. cisco "Isco" Alarcon's shot sia as favorites to share first
"It wasn't an easy situation. struck the crossbar and and second in the group,
When you have this staff dropped straight down but the draw leaves them
and these young players, on the goal line. After Isco two points behind Iran,