Arsenal and Spain midfielder, Mikel Merino, came off the bench on Monday night to score an injury-time 1-0 winner that knocked Portugal – and Cristiano Ronaldo – out of the World Cup in a heavyweight last-16 tie in Dallas.
The victory has set up a potential La Roja clash with Belgium who defeated co-hosts USA 4-1. Their quarter final fixture will hold in Los Angeles on Friday, 10 July @8.00pm.
Before that goal came in the 91st minute, Spain had failed to create clear-cut openings in a poor second half before Ferran Torres laid the pass to Merino to fire the winner beyond the reach of Portugal’s goalkeeper Diogo Costa
The 1-0 result was also a repeat of their meeting at the same stage at the 2010 edition of the World Cup in South Africa.
Portugal’s defeat also ends 41-year-old five-time Champions League winner Ronaldo’s World Cup career after the superstar confirmed this tournament would be his last.
Spain squandered a gilt-edged chance after just three minutes as Dani Olmo’s pass helped Mikel Oyarzabal get behind the defence, but the Real Sociedad striker dragged his effort wide.
Costa then produced a double save to deny Spanish duo Lamine Yamal and Alex Baena in quick succession as La Roja probed for an opener, but it was Portugal who went closest next.
Spain were saved by the woodwork in the 41st minute as Nuno Mendes’ venomous left-foot strike took a deflection off Pedro Porro and rattled the crossbar. However, the game remained goalless at the break.
Roberto Martinez’s side continued to grow into the game after the break, though Ronaldo cut a frustrated figure up front in a second half that produced little in the way of action in the final third.
Bruno Fernandes hit the side-netting in the 76th minute, while at the other end Olmo’s shot from inside the box was blocked by a brave Ruben Dias before the two Spain substitutes combined to produce the match-winning moment.
Elsewhere, Belgium sealed their pasty into the quarter finals of the FIFA World Cup after claiming a seventh straight head-to-Head victory against USA with a 4-1 win.
Charles De Ketelaere scored twice with Hans Vanaken and Romelu Lukaku contributing the other goals for Belgium.
Malik Tillman had equalised 1-1 for USA in the 31st minute with a deflected free kick which wrong-footed Thibaut Courtois. That goal gave the impression of a possible upset.
On a day that FIFA’s controversial decision to suspend U.S. forward Folarin Balogun’s red card ban and allow him to be fielded overshadowed other discussions about the World Cup, the Belgians didn’t take anything for granted.
De Ketelaere fired the lead for Belgium in the ninth minute with a simple tap-in, taking full advantage of a nervous start by the U.S. to quickly deflate the partisan crowd. Three other goals ensured that the co-hosts join Mexico and Canada to exit the tournament in the Last 16 stage.
Belgium are to play Spain in a mouthwatering quarter final fixture on Friday.
RESULTS
Portugal 0-1 Spain
USA 1-4 Belgium
TODAY
Argentina v Egypt (5pm)
Switzerland v Colombia (9pm)
