An absorbing Confederations Cup 2017 game at the Kazan Arena between Portugal and Mexico ended in a 2-2 draw with the CONCACAF title-holders scoring a dramatic injury-time equaliser to deny the European champions three points in their Group A game on Sunday night.

Portugal full-back Cedric Soares’ 88th-minute goal seemed to have given the Iberians a win but their Central American opponents made them pay for switching off at a corner when Mexico defender Hector Moreno rose high to head home a dramatic equaliser. 

Fernando Santos sent Portugal out in a 4-4-2 formation on the Confederations Cup debut, with talisman and captain Cristiano Ronaldo leading the line alongside Nani but despite their obvious superiority on paper, they struggled to get a hold of the ball in the opening exchanges. Santos’ decision to bench young hot-shots Bernardo Silva and Andre Silva didn't pan out as he would have wished as the Mexicans had a massive domination over possesion. 

Mexico, opted to bench the likes of Giovani Dos Santos and Hirving Lozano, were looking fluid in their 4-3-3 formation with Javier Hernandez and Carslos Vela leading the line for El Tri. 

Vela in particular, was causing Portugal all sorts of problems on the right wing but somehow against the run of play, it was the Europeans who would take the lead. 

Ronaldo sprung the offside trap perfectly and drew in a couple of Mexican defenders to him near the edge of the box before deftly setting up Ricardo Quaresman for a simple finish in the 34th minute. Guillermo Ochoa had raced off his line to close the angle but Quaresma's cool first-touch took him past the keeper and he promptly put the ball into an empty net. 

Quaresma had a golden chance to double his tally six minutes later when Ronaldo set him up with a brilliant back-hell but his finish was just wide of the Mexico goal, much to the relief of Ochoa and co. 

El Tri, winners of the tournament in 1999, were roused from their stupor and responded, with Hernandez aka Chicharito diving to head home Vela's cross three minutes from half-time, after Portugal had made a mess of a routine clearance. 

A thrilling end to the first-half had set the tone for a goal spree in the second but much to the disappointment of all those present at the Kazan Arena, the second period was very cagey for the most part. 

Portugal and Mexico both made changes as the hour-mark approached in a bid to find that killer second goal, with Dos Santos and Andre Silva coming on and as the clock ticked, the game began to get stretched. 

And two goals in the final five minutes signified a crazy end to a thrilling game and while Portugal feel robbed, a draw was probably the just result.

Both teams are trailing hosts Russia in Group A, who beat New Zealand 2-0 in the tournament opener on Saturday. 

Portugal's next game is on Wednesday at the Spartak Stadium against Russia, while Mexico will face minnows New Zealand later on the same day at the Fisht Olympic Stadium.