The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Ronaldo scores hat trick against Spain
SOCHI, Russia — Cristiano Ronaldo used the World Cup to show everyone he’s the GOAT.
Ronaldo rubbed his chin after scoring minutes into Portugal’s opener against Spain, implying he is the Greatest of All Time. Then he scored two more goals, including a perfectly placed 88th-minute free kick that gave his team a 3-3 draw Friday.
Spain, the 2010 World Cup champion, dominated much of the match but was unable to contain Ronaldo.
“When I play against a player like Ronaldo, these things can happen,” newly appointed Spain coach Fernando Hierro said. “It’s very fortunate for whatever team has Cristiano Ronaldo.”
Ronaldo had twice given European champion Portugal the lead with first-half goals at Fisht Stadium, but Diego Costa equalized with a goal in each half. Nacho Fernandez then put the Spanish ahead with a onetimer from outside the area in the Group B match.
Ronaldo became the fourth player to score in four World Cups, joining Pele, Miroslav Klose and Uwe Seeler. He also became the first Portuguese player to appear in four World Cups, and at 33 became the oldest player to score a hat trick in tournament history.
He used his first goal to send a message to the world in an apparent reaction to Adidas’ “GOAT” promotion with Lionel Messi, featuring the Argentine with a real goat. Ronaldo and Messi have split the last 10 player of the year awards.
“I’ve said it so many times, Cristiano is the best in the world,” Portugal coach Fernando Santos said.
IRAN 1, MOROCCO 0
Aziz Bouhaddouz headed a free kick into his own net in the fifth minute of injury time to gift Iran to a Group B victory over Morocco in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Only on the field as a 77th-minute substitute, the Morocco striker dived to reach a curling cross from the left but headed the ball past goalkeeper Monir El Kajoui.
There was an explosion of joy among the Iran squad, with coaching staff and substitutes sprinting onto the field and jumping for joy.
URUGUAY 1, EGYPT 0
Uruguay won its opening match at the World Cup for the first time in 48 years, getting an 89th-minute goal from defender Jose Gimenez in a victory over Egypt in Group A in Yekaterinburg, Russia.
Gimenez jumped in the area and headed home a free kick from Atletico Madrid teammate Diego Godin. It was the first time Uruguay won its opening match at the tournament since 1970, when it went on to reach the semifinals.
Egypt forward Mohamed Salah was on the bench for his country’s first World Cup match since 1990 after injuring a shoulder while playing for Liverpool in last month’s Champions League final. Salah was the Premier League’s player of the season after scoring a league-leading 32 goals, with 44 in all competitions.