INGLEWOOD, California : Substitute Mikel Merino scored a dramatic late winner for the second successive knockout match as Spain beat an injury-hit Belgium 2-1 on Friday to reach the World Cup semi-finals, where they will face France.
Merino struck in the 88th minute after Belgium substitute goalkeeper Senne Lammens spilled Pau Cubarsi’s low effort, allowing the midfielder to pounce from close range and send the largely pro-Spain crowd of 70,492 into celebration at Los Angeles Stadium.
“There are no such things as coincidences,” Merino said after also scoring the decisive goal in Spain’s 1-0 last-16 victory over Portugal.
“If you go into a match well-prepared, things tend to happen again.”
Spain reached the World Cup semi-finals for the first time since winning the title in 2010 and will meet tournament favourites France in Dallas on Tuesday for a place in the final.
“We are two matches away from winning the World Cup and that is what we are going after,” Merino added.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente welcomed the challenge ahead.
“We’re going to work hard to try and beat France,” he said. “They’ll be just as worried as we are.”
Spain dominated the opening stages and took the lead in the 30th minute through Fabian Ruiz, who reacted quickest after Thibaut Courtois produced a fine diving save, firing the rebound through the legs of defender Timothy Castagne.
Ruiz justified De la Fuente’s surprise decision to start him ahead of Pedri, who replaced the Paris St Germain midfielder early in the second half.
Belgium equalised in the 41st minute when Charles De Ketelaere met Castagne’s cross with a well-timed header beyond Unai Simon, ending Spain’s run without conceding a goal at the tournament.
Spain controlled possession after the break and repeatedly threatened, with 18-year-old Lamine Yamal causing problems throughout, before Merino settled the contest two minutes after coming off the bench.
Spain finished with 17 attempts to Belgium’s five.
Merino became the first player to score winning goals as a substitute in two different World Cup knockout matches.
Belgium’s preparations had been disrupted before kickoff when captain Youri Tielemans suffered an injury during the warm-up and was replaced in the starting lineup by Hans Vanaken.
They were also without midfielder Amadou Onana, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament in the last-16 victory over the United States.
Belgium’s problems worsened in the second half when Courtois was forced off after feeling muscle pain in his leg while taking long goal kicks.
The Real Madrid goalkeeper, visibly emotional as he left the pitch, said he wanted to continue but accepted coach Rudi Garcia’s decision to replace him.
“I wanted to continue but, yeah, the coach wanted someone 100%, so okay, that’s his decision … and that’s not a problem,” Courtois said.
The decision proved costly as Lammens, introduced in Courtois’s place, failed to hold Cubarsi’s shot before Merino converted the rebound.
“Senne, obviously, I gave him a big hug,” Courtois said. “Not much more I can do at the moment. I know, for goalkeepers, this is a shit feeling, and he’s a great goalkeeper, and he will only get stronger from this.”
