Sports
Merino’s late winner sends Spain past Belgium into World Cup Semi-Finals
Substitute wizard Mikel Merino dashed the dreams of Belgium as he scored the winning goal to qualify Spain to the World Cup semi-finals in a thrilling 2-1 victory on Friday.
This spectacular match at SoFi Stadium creates another mouth-watering clash between the European champions Spain and favorite France and star striker Kylian Mbappe in Dallas on Tuesday.
However, it is devastating news for Belgium’s substitute goalkeeper Senne Lammens, who was substituted in late, and he let in a goal into the way of Merino.
The match featured an exciting climax following Fabian Ruiz opening the score sheet for Spain while Charles De Ketelaere made sure Belgium drew level with a goal before half-time.
The Belgium team was facing challenges even before kickoff with the addition of Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku into the lineup due to the absence of captain Youri Tielemans who suffered a hamstring injury during the warm-up drills.
Belgium’s injury problems increased following Amadou Onana being diagnosed with torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Replacing Pedri, Ruiz got started instantly by teaming up with Rodri to control the play, and the Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal attempted an early effort that narrowly missed the target.
However, for Belgium, the opponent winger Doku stood out by delivering an assist to De Ketelaere, the striker who scored two goals against the USA in their last match on Monday.
Nevertheless, it was Spain who went ahead. In the thirtieth minute of play, Pedro Porro combined well with Lamine Yamal and delivered a wonderful cross to Dani Olmo from the vicinity of the corner flag.
Olmo’s attempt at goal was blocked by Thibaut Courtois but the ball fell to Ruiz who made good use of it to score.
Suddenly, it was all Spain now. They were exchanging passes in the Belgian half of the pitch as if they were doing it for fun in a practice session of the World Cup quarter-final with Brad Pitt, Penelope Cruz and Noel Gallagher watching.
However, Belgium, who managed a miraculous recovery from 2-0 behind in the round of 32 to defeat Senegal, did not lose their nerve.
They found another at 41st minute mark. De Bruyne made a through ball down the line to Timothy Castagne. The cross to the head of De Ketelaere was done in a perfect timing as he outmuscled the young Barcelona player Pau Cubarsi.
It was the first goal Spain had conceded in the World Cup this time.
Unbelievably, Belgium almost doubled their lead just before halftime. After stealing the ball during the Spain corner, De Ketelaere passed to an unmarked Doku whose pass just narrowly escaped interception by Olmo.
Yamal became a threat after half-time when his cross to find Mikel Oyarzabal was successfully blocked by a sprinting Courtois.
The Belgian coach, Rudi Garcia, introduced veteran striker Romelu Lukaku who had scored from the bench in three consecutive games.
The game opened up. There was a collision between a Belgian cross and Rodri who was accidentally hit by the ball. Oyarzabal attempted a shot from an acute angle which got saved.
A crying Courtois left the pitch with an injury after 70th minute. Lammens was introduced who was a 24-year-old Manchester United goalkeeper playing his first World Cup game.
It turned out to be a nightmare.
The Spaniards made a move in the 88th minute when Cubarsi hit a low ball into the box that Lammens should have claimed. Instead, substitute Mikel Merino won possession and drilled the ball into the back of the net.
It was his second consecutive late goal in two games, as Merino had netted the game winner against Portugal in stoppage time on Monday.
Near the end of the game, Alexis Saelemaekers ran past Unai but couldn’t connect with Lukaku at the near post for a wide-open goal.
Following the final whistle, Courtois came out to console a tearful Lammens, while other members of Belgium’s aging “Golden Generation” stood frozen and dumbfounded.
For Spain, celebrations ensued and it will now be all about preparation for their highly anticipated game against France.
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