João Mário steals Spain's thunder
Friday, July 6, 2012
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Portugal 3-3 Spain
A Jesé Rodríguez hat-trick looked to have won the day until Portugal captain João Mário struck from the spot at the death.
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An added-time penalty from Portugal captain João Mário kept the fight for first place in Group A alive and took some of the shine off a Jesé Rodríguez hat-trick that looked to have secured the holders a place in the semi-finals.
Julen Lopetegui's Spain were made to work hard by a Portuguese team who twice pegged them back in the opening 45 minutes through goals from Bruma and André Gomes. Real Madrid CF's Jesé added to his double strike in the first half with another shortly after the break, but João Mário stepped up to earn his team a share of the spoils.
Relying on pace and solid ball control, La Rojita forged ahead in the eighth minute with Jesé – who also scored in the 2-1 win against Greece - calmly sliding the ball to goalkeeper Rafael Veloso's left shortly after latching on to Oliver Torres's probing pass in behind opposition lines.
Undeterred, Alvaro Borges's team responded and were on terms shortly afterwards when Sporting Clube de Portugal wide midfielder Bruma slammed a loose ball past Kepa Arrizabalaga after team-mate André Gomes caused confusion in the Spain box.
João Cancelo then fizzed a shot narrowly over for 2003 semi-finalists Portugal, but Spain then struck again, Jesé working his way into a scoring position on the right before striking low into the net. However, Portugal drew level again before the break with André Gomes glancing Bruma's corner home for 2-2.
Three minutes after the break, Jesé hit his third to take his tally for the tournament to four, taking advantage of Gerard Deulofeu's trickery before striking home from close range. It looked to be Spain's night following a dramatic double save from Arrizabalaga to keep Portugal at bay, but João Mário converted from the penalty spot in added time after Alejandro Grimaldo had upended Ricardo Esgaio in the area.