Only one of the seven games played on Saturday and Sunday (NZT) was decided by more than a goal, when Croatia beat Nigeria 2-0.
Spain and Portugal played out a 3-3 thriller, Cristiano Ronaldo bagging three goals and scoring an 88th minute match-tier.
He got the scoring under way with a fourth-minute penalty, before Diego Costa hit back for Spain.
Ronaldo edged Portugal back in front just before halftime, but two quick goals to Costa and Fernandez Nacho gave Spain a lead with half an hour to go.
With two minutes remaining, Portugal was awarded a free kick just outside the box and Ronaldo found the top right-hand corner of the net to claim a draw.
Ronaldo’s great rival Lionel Messi did not have such a good weekend.
Iceland’s Hordur Bjorgvin Magnusson saved the Argentinian maestro’s 64th minute penalty to hold on for a 1-1 draw.
It was the decisive moment in a game in which both sides scored their goals early.
The video assistant referee proved crucial for France in its 2-1 win over Australia.
It was awarded a penalty upon video review in the 58th minute, after the referee Andres Cunha was originally unmoved when Antoine Griezmann was brought down in the box.
Griezmann duly stepped up to give France the lead, but Mile Jedinak struck back — again from the spot — for Australia to draw level soon after.
Paul Pogba delivered the decisive blow with 10 minutes to play, getting a foot on a ball which looped its way to fall just inside the goal.
Indeed, it took technology to determine that it had crossed the line.
Jose Maria Gimenez buried a late header for Uruguay to claim a 1-0 win over Egypt.
Egypt was without talismanic striker Mohamed Salah, but battled to remain 0-0 for the majority of the game.
However, Gimenez broke the deadlock in the 89th minute and robbed Egypt of the point.
Iran claimed a dramatic first win in a World Cup finals match in 20 years, when Morocco’s Aziz Bouhaddouz headed in an own goal in stoppage time.
Yussuf Poulsen scored the decisive goal for Denmark to beat Peru 1-0, while a Luka Modric penalty put Croatia’s win to bed in a 2-0 effort over Nigeria.
This morning Costa Rica played Serbia, Germany took on Mexico and Brazil faced Switzerland.