Merino’s decisive late goal
Spain secured their place in the World Cup semi-finals following a late goal from Mikel Merino, capitalising on a goalkeeping error from Belgium‘s Senne Lammens. The match, held in Inglewood, saw the European champions advance to face France in the next round. Merino’s goal, scored two minutes from time, marked his second decisive contribution in as many knockout games, having also netted a winner against Portugal.
The crucial moment occurred when Pau Cubarsi unleashed a long-range effort. Lammens, who had come on as a substitute, was unable to hold onto the shot, spilling the ball directly into Merino’s path. The midfielder then struck the ball into the net, sealing Spain’s victory.
This turn of events was particularly harsh on Belgium, who had been forced to make a change in goal earlier in the second half. Their first-choice goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, was forced off the pitch due to a thigh injury approximately 20 minutes before the end of regular time. Courtois, visibly distressed, was replaced by Lammens.
First-half exchanges and Belgian resilience
The match kicked off in sweltering conditions in Inglewood, with the midday start adding to the challenge for both teams. Belgium, despite a pre-match setback with captain Youri Tielemans injuring his hamstring during the warm-up, showed early resilience. Manager Rudi Garcia had reinstated key players Jeremy Doku and Kevin De Bruyne to the starting line-up, after their surprising omission in the previous round against the USA.
Spain initially took the lead after approximately half an hour of play. A quick one-two between Pedro Porro and Lamine Yamal on the right flank created an opportunity for Dani Olmo in the box. Although Olmo’s shot was saved by Courtois, the Belgian goalkeeper could only parry it into the path of Fabian Ruiz, who then tapped the ball in. Ruiz was deputising for Pedri in midfield.
Spain’s lead, however, was short-lived. Just four minutes before the interval, Belgium found an equaliser. The goal came from Charles De Ketelaere, following a cross from Timothy Castagne. The move was orchestrated by De Bruyne, who delivered a precise first-time pass to Castagne high up the pitch. De Ketelaere then glanced the ball past Spain’s goalkeeper, Unai Simon, marking the first goal Simon had conceded in a significant number of World Cup minutes.
Second-half tension and strategic changes
The second half saw a more balanced contest, with both teams creating opportunities. Yamal, despite some wasteful moments, had a shot that went just wide of the post. Spain’s coach, Luis de la Fuente, made a double substitution around 55 minutes into the game, bringing on Ferran Torres and Pedri in an attempt to shift the momentum. As the half progressed, Belgium introduced Romelu Lukaku, increasing their threat on the counterattack.
The tension escalated further with Courtois’ injury, leading to Lammens’ unexpected entry into the game. Shortly after, De Bruyne had a long-range effort blocked by Rodri, preventing a potential goal with Simon out of position. As extra time loomed, Belgium began to drop deeper, which ultimately led to the decisive error from Lammens and Merino’s winning goal.
Spain’s victory extends their impressive unbeaten run in competitive matches to 36. This win propels them towards a semi-final clash with France, scheduled to take place in Dallas. The match between Spain and Belgium was the second quarter-final of the tournament, following France’s victory over Morocco.
The semi-final fixture against France will be held in the air-conditioned Dallas Stadium. Spain’s progression marks another step towards potentially securing their nation’s second triumph on the world stage, nearly 16 years after their 2010 generation achieved success in South Africa.
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Source: independent.co.uk
Lucy Ashby is a Sports Reporter at NewsGB. She reported on the county circuit and Team GB. She focuses on tennis, cricket and athletics and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. She holds a degree in Sport and Media from Durham University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Durham, she plays club cricket and follows distance running. “The best sport reporting starts by listening.”
