Mikel Merino was Spain’s hero again as the substitute scored in the 88th minute to stun Belgium and book his side’s place in the World Cup semi-finals, Yankee Scores reports.
The Arsenal midfielder, who scored a 91st minute winner against Portugal in the last 16, stepped up with another late strike to decide a closely contested quarter-final tie in Los Angeles.
Merino Cementing His Clutch Legacy
The score was 1-1 and extra time was looming when Belgium substitute goalkeeper Senne Lammens, who replaced injured Thibaut Courtois, spilled Pau Cubarsi’s 25-yard shot and Merino was quickest to react, stabbing the rebound into the roof of the net from close range.
He’d been on the pitch for only 117 seconds after coming on for Dani Olmo.
Fabian Ruiz put Spain ahead in the 30th minute but the Europeans conceded their first goal of the finals when Charles de Ketelaere headed in four minutes before half-time.
Victory sets up a last-four meeting for Luis de la Fuente’s European champions against France in Dallas on Tuesday, July 14 (20:00 BST).
First to the fore were Spain with a nice move down the right as Pedro Porro linked up with Lamine Yamal before putting in a cross that found Olmo whose first effort was blocked by Courtois.
But PSG midfielder Fabian Ruiz, starting in place of Pedri, drilled the rebound through the legs of Timothy Castagne to give the 2010 champions the lead their early dominance merited.
Eleven minutes later Belgium equalised when De Ketelaere got ahead of Cubarsi to power home Castagne’s cross, ending Spain’s remarkable run of 649 minutes without conceding at the 2026 World Cup.
There were penalty appeals from Rudi Garcia’s side after the restart when Spain defender Aymeric Laporte headed a cross on to the arm of team-mate Rodri in the box while Mikel Oyarzabal had a shot blocked by an alert Courtois.
Courtois in Tears
But the Real Madrid keeper was in tears as he hobbled off with what appeared to be a muscle injury in the 71st minute.
His replacement was Manchester United’s Lammens, who made his third appearance.
He was at fault when he failed to hold Cubarsi’s shot and Merino pounced from close range to prove pivotal in the outcome.
Spain are to meet France in just their second World Cup semi-final after Belgium’s campaign ended in heartbreak.
