Spain 2-1 Belgium: Super sub Merino strikes again to send La Roja into semi-final | OneFootball

Spain have progressed to the World Cup semi-final for the first time since 2010 following a 2-1 win over Belgium in Los Angeles.

Fabián Ruiz opened the scoring after half an hour, smashing into the roof of the net after Thibaut Courtois palmed away a low strike from Dani Olmo. However, Belgium levelled before half-time when Charles De Ketelaere headed home from close range after a perfect passing move.

Mikel Merino was yet again on hand to pop up with the winning goal for Spain after being introduced as a substitute, bundling the ball home from close range with mere minutes remaining.

As it happened

Spain made one change to their starting XI following a 1-0 win over Portugal last time out, with Ruiz replacing Pedri in the middle of the park. Meanwhile, Belgium made two changes, with Jérémy Doku and Kevin De Bruyne replacing Amadou Onana and Dodi Lukébakio. However, a further change would follow during the warm-up when Youri Tielemans pulled up injured and was replaced by Hans Vanaken.

A cagey 10 minutes saw Rodri take on the first shot of the game, a volley from inside the area which was blocked. Lamine Yamal was next up to try and break the deadlock, but he curled wide from the edge of the area.

The opener eventually came in the 29th minute, when Ruiz smashed the ball home after Courtois palmed away Olmo’s low effort from inside the box. Moments later, Yamal won a free-kick in an incredibly dangerous position when he was brought down by Doku. However, Courtois was equal to the resultant shot.

Álex Baena burst through the Belgium defence as Spain continued to dominate, but he was penalised for controlling the ball with his arm before firing his shot wide. Their next chance once again came through Yamal, who was really running the show at this point. He chopped inside and took aim at goal, but could only find the side netting.

However, Belgium got themselves back on level terms before the break when De Ketelaere headed home from close range, ending Spain’s run of clean sheets at this World Cup. Pau Cubarsí was shown the first yellow card of the match shortly after, when he pulled down De Bruyne.

A string of corners came for Spain in the final moments of the half, but they were well dealt with by the Belgian defence, meaning the two sides headed in level.

Spain came out well in the second half, with Yamal volleying wide and winning his side a corner in the opening stages, which saw Olmo fire high and wide from the edge of the box. A double change followed for La Roja, with Pedri and Ferran Torres replacing Álex Baena and Ruiz. Belgium responded shortly after with changes of their own as Romelu Lukaku, Joaquin Seys and Axel Witsel replaced Leandro Trossard, Maxim De Cuyper and Vanaken.

Courtois was tested once again on the hour mark, this time denying Mikel Oyarzabal from a tight angle. The Belgian goalkeeper went down shortly after with what appeared to be a thigh problem; in fact, he was substituted after receiving medical treatment, replaced by Manchester United’s Senny Lammens.

Meanwhile, Spain’s next change saw Oyazarabal replaced by Nico Williams for the closing stages of regular time. De Bruyne was shown a yellow card for a foul in the middle before Belgium were forced into their final change, with De Bruyne struggling with cramp before being replaced by Alexis Salaemakers.

Merino was also introduced to proceedings, replacing Olmo. He made an almost immediate impact, to little surprise, popping up inside the six-yard box to bundle the ball home after Lammens spilt a shot from Cubarsí.

Belgium almost got an instant equaliser when Salaemakers took the ball past Unai Símon, but his cross-come-shot was clipped away by Aymeric Laporte, who was booked moments later for a foul inside his own half.

Witsel was also added to the referee’s notebook in the 94th minute, when he caught Rodri on the halfway line. Lukaku looked to have come close to a late leveller for Belgium when he nearly connected with Nico Raskin’s cross, but instead he headed the goalkeeper’s arm and gave away a free-kick, bringing the game to an end and sending Spain into the final four for just the second time in World Cup history.