Between equal teams, scoring first has always been vital.
The team in the lead can then time waste to their hearts content, mass ranked defence and counter at will.
Nightmare for Spain.
Yep.
The BBC apologists will say it was. Defender didn't need to make that challenge, asked questions of the ref, blah, blah.
Ronaldo could far more easier have played on after beating the man, but went for the modern act of cheating.