LOS ANGELES, July 11 – Substitute Mikel Merino once again emerged as Spain’s hero, scoring the decisive goal to secure a 2-1 victory over Belgium and send the 2010 world champions into the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup for the first time in 16 years.
Merino, who netted the winner in Spain’s 1-0 Round of 16 triumph over Portugal earlier this week, delivered another match-winning performance by scoring the decisive second-half goal at Los Angeles Stadium in California on Friday.
Spain made a bright start and dominated much of the contest, coming close to opening the scoring in the 21st minute when 18-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal unleashed an effort that narrowly sailed over the crossbar.
Following the cooling break, midfielder Fabián Ruiz gave Luis de la Fuente’s side the lead in the 30th minute, reacting quickest to a rebound after Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois parried an initial attempt from winger Dani Olmo.
Merino’s match-winning strike later sealed Spain’s place in the last four, keeping alive La Roja’s hopes of lifting their second FIFA World Cup title after their historic triumph in 2010.
— MINUTESMY
