Mikel Merino came off the bench again to save Spain, scoring the go-ahead goal in the 88th minute of La Roja’s 2-1 win over Belgium in the World Cup quarterfinals in Inglewood, California, on Friday.
A spot in the July 19 final will be on the line when Spain faces France on Tuesday in Arlington, Texas. The French are aiming for a third consecutive access to the final after winning in 2018 before losing on penalties to Argentina four years ago.
Merino, who was on the field less than six minutes before scoring the winner in second-half stoppage time against Portugal in the round of 16 on Monday, came on in the 86th minute and smashed in a rebound after replacement goalkeeper Senne Lammens tipped over a soft shot from Pau Cubarsi.
Mikel Merino came off the bench again to save Spain, scoring the go-ahead goal in the 88th minute to defeat Belgium 2-1 in the World Cup quarterfinal in Inglewood, California, on Friday.
A spot in the July 19 final will be on the line when Spain faces France on Tuesday in Arlington, Texas. The French are aiming for a third consecutive access to the final after winning in 2018 before losing on penalties to Argentina four years ago.
Spain are back in the semi-finals for the first time since winning their only World Cup in 2010.
Merino, who was on the field less than six minutes before scoring the winner in second-half stoppage time against Portugal in the round of 16 on Monday, came on in the 86th minute and smashed in a rebound after replacement goalkeeper Senne Lammens tipped over a soft shot from Pau Cubarsi.
Lammens replaced the injured Thibaut Courtois (four saves) in the 71st minute, when he was unable to play due to an apparent leg injury.
In the second minute of stoppage time in the second half, Spanish defender Aymeric Laporte bailed out goalkeeper Unai Simon with a clearance in front of goal.
Spain had not conceded a goal in the tournament in five matches but found themselves tied 1-1 at halftime.
Fabian Ruiz gave Spain the lead in the 30th minute with a rebound from a Dani Olmo shot, but a Charles De Ketelaere header in the 41st equalized.
Spain almost opened the scoring in the 21st, but a strike from star Lamine Yamal, who turns 19 on Monday, went wide of the left post and the advantage came soon after.
A cross from Pedro Poro from the left flank was well struck by Olmo in the center of the area, forcing a save from the right-handed Courtois.
Ruiz, who started ahead of Barcelona’s Pedri in midfield, was in a perfect position for the takedown.
La Roja got Belgium back into the game with an uncharacteristically poor clearance and Timothy Castagne sent a cross from the right to De Ketelaere, who positioned himself inside on Cubarsi and powered the ball past Unai Simon.
The goal ended Simon’s record World Cup streak without conceding a goal at 650 minutes dating back to the 2022 World Cup.
The goal came a minute after Yamal missed the target again from distance, this time at the right post.
The match was briefly opened on the hour mark when Spaniard Lamine Yamal, who had narrowly missed the goal twice, saw a shot from outside the area saved by Courtois.
At the other end, Kevin De Bruyne’s shot was saved before Spain responded and Courtois denied Mikel Oyarzabal at the right post.
Belgian captain and midfielder Youri Tielemans suffered an undisclosed injury during the warm-up and was left out of the starting lineup. Hans Vanaken replaces him.
Belgium ended their 18-match unbeaten streak, while Spain extended their own unbeaten streak to a team record 36, one short of the record 37 set by Italy from 2018 to 2021.
