Merino the late hero once more as Lammens error presents La Roja semi-final spot

Mikel Merino as soon as once more got here off the bench to maintain Spain‘s World Cup dream alive as he pounced on a Senne Lammens error to a seal a 2-1 quarter-final win over Belgium.

The European champions had been heavy favourites in Los Angeles however had been made to work laborious by Rudi Garcia’s aspect, who confirmed spectacular resilience to breach Spain’s purpose for the primary time within the match.

Fabian Ruiz put Spain forward on the half-hour mark, just for Charles De Ketelaere head Belgium degree 11 minutes later.

An absorbing tie appeared set for additional time, however Spain had been gifted a spot in a blockbuster semi-final with France two minutes from the tip of regular time.

Lammens, who changed the injured Thibaut Courtois within the 71st minute, failed to show a long-range effort from Pau Cubarsi away from hazard, and Merino was quickest to react.

The Arsenal man was the match-winner in stoppage time within the last-16 victory over Portugal and he made no mistake in tucking dwelling the rebound to ship Spain to Dallas, the place match favourites France await in a mouthwatering conflict.

Merino repeats the feat as Spain depart it late once more

Belgium, who misplaced midfielder Youri Tielemans to harm within the warm-up, efficiently pissed off Spain for a lot of the early levels and provided a menace via Manchester Metropolis star Jeremy Doku. 

The truth that a Twenty first-minute Lamine Yamal effort that Courtois was in a position to watch fly the publish represented Spain’s finest likelihood earlier than the hydration break was illustrative of Spain’s struggles in breaking Belgium down.

However they discovered a method via as Pedro Porro was performed in by Yamal down the correct and pulled the ball again for Dani Olmo, whose close-range strike was repelled by Courtois, however solely so far as Ruiz as he turned dwelling on the rebound.

Courtois then needed to get down low to maintain out a Yamal free-kick, with the Barcelona teenager then firing into the side-netting after chopping in from the correct in trademark vogue.

And Spain had been punished for failing to double their lead by De Ketelaere, who as soon as once more displayed his ruthlessness in entrance of purpose after scoring twice within the last-16 demolition of the USA. 

Kevin De Bruyne performed in Timothy Castagne down the correct with a intelligent move, and the Fulham full-back’s cross was transformed with a high-quality header from De Ketelaere.

Belgium noticed an opportunity to compete the turnaround go begging early within the second half as Maxim De Cuyper lashed into the side-netting after wonderful work down the left from Doku.

Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal had been each denied by Courtois, however the harm to the Actual Madrid goalkeeper proved the turning level. 

Courtois left the sector in tears as what was doubtless his ultimate World Cup sport got here to a untimely finish, and Merino ensured the likes of De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku additionally stated farewell to the match by ruthlessly benefiting from Lammens’ failure to gather Cubarsi’s drive.