Spain defeated Belgium 2-1 in a World Cup quarter-final in Los Angeles on Friday to reach the semi-finals. Mikel Merino came off the bench to score a stoppage-time winner after an error by Belgium goalkeeper Senne Lammens.
Fabian Ruiz gave Spain the lead after 30 minutes when he turned home a rebound after Thibaut Courtois saved from Dani Olmo. Charles De Ketelaere equalised for Belgium 11 minutes later with a header from Timothy Castagne's cross.
The match looked headed for extra time until Merino pounced two minutes from the end of normal time. Lammens, who replaced the injured Courtois, failed to collect a long-range shot from Pau Cubarsi, allowing Merino to score on the rebound.
Merino, who also scored a late winner against Portugal in the last 16, said afterwards: “To be two games away from a World Cup is a dream come true and we will keep going.” Spain will face France in the semi-finals in Dallas.
Merino became the first player in World Cup history to score the winning goal in two different knockout stage games as a substitute.
