​Mikel Merino again came off the bench to rescue Spain, delivering the decisive goal in the 88th minute to clinch a 2-1 World Cup quarterfinal victory over Belgium in Inglewood, California, on Friday. Spain’s path to a spot in the July 19 final will take them to Texas on Tuesday, where they will face France in Arlington. The French are aiming for a third consecutive trip to the final, having won the tournament in 2018 before losing on penalties to Argentina four years ago.
Merino, who had appeared for fewer than six minutes before scoring the late winner against Portugal in the round of 16 on Monday, entered the pitch in the 86th minute and blasted in a rebound after substitute keeper Senne Lammens spilled a soft shot from Pau Cubarsi. Lammens had come on for the injured Thibaut Courtois (who made four saves) in the 71st minute and could not continue after a leg issue.
In the 92nd minute of stoppage time in the second half, Spain defender Aymeric Laporte intervened to clear a dangerous ball in front of Unai Simon’s goal, helping preserve the slim margin. Spain had not conceded a goal in the tournament across five matches but found themselves tied 1-1 at the break.
Fabian Ruiz gave Spain the lead in the 30th minute with a rebound following Dani Olmo’s shot, yet Charles De Ketelaere answered for Belgium with a header in the 41st minute. Spain almost opened the scoring in the 21st minute when star forward Lamine Yamal, who turns 19 on Monday, fired wide of the left post; the breakthrough soon followed. Pedro Porro’s cross from the left found Olmo at the center of the box, and Courtois produced a right-handed save as Ruiz pounced on the rebound to put Spain ahead.
Merino celebrated after the late winner, which followed a stretch of near-misses in the second half. Belgium’s clearing errors briefly let Spain back into the match, and Timothy Castagne delivered a cross from the right that Charles De Ketelaere headed past Unai Simon, drawing Belgium level. The goal came just after Yamal again threatened from distance, his attempt from outside the box missing narrowly to the right post and ending Simon’s run of 650 minutes without conceding at a World Cup since the 2022 tournament.
The duel had not been short on drama. Merino’s decisive strike arrived in the closing minutes as Yamal again looked to have found an opportunity but was unable to convert. Courtois had frustrated Spain earlier, making a series of key saves, including denying Mikel Oyarzabal at the right post as the hour mark approached. Belgium captain Youri Tielemans was forced to watch from the sideline after sustaining an undisclosed injury during warm-ups and was replaced by Hans Vanaken.
Belgium’s 18-match unbeaten streak came to an end, while Spain extended its own unbeaten run to 36 matches—the team record, just one short of the 37-match stretch Italy posted from 2018 to 2021.
This report originally appeared on The D, and reflects the latest updates from Friday’s quarterfinal clash between Spain and Belgium.