Mikel Merino scored in the 88th minute to give Spain a 2-1 victory over Belgium in the World Cup quarterfinals on Friday. This win sends Spain to the semifinals for the first time since they won the World Cup in 2010.
Spain’s Road to the Semifinals
Merino came on in the 86th minute and scored on his second touch of the match, charging into the box and pouncing after Belgium’s backup goalkeeper Senne Lammens spilled a rebound of Pau Cubarsí’s long shot. This is the second straight match where Merino has been the late hero for Spain.
Fabián Ruiz scored in the 30th minute for Spain, but Belgium forward Charles De Ketelaere notched the first goal allowed by Spain in the entire World Cup in the 41st minute. Spain remained unbeaten since March 2023 in a streak of 37 matches, while Belgium’s streak of 18 straight unbeaten matches ended.
Original reporting: NBC6 Miami — read the source article.