INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) – Mikel Merino scored in the 88th minute off a rebound from Belgian backup goalkeeper Senne Lamence, sending Spain into the final. world cup They won 2-1 in Friday’s semifinal.
Merino was a late hero in Spain’s back-to-back matches against tournament favorites. France The semifinals will be held in the Dallas area on Tuesday.
Spain national team coach Luis de la Fuente said through an interpreter, “It’s going to be a match between giants.”
Merino, who came on in the 86th minute, rushed into the box and pounced on Lamence’s deflection of a long-range shot from Pau Kvarsi, scoring the goal with his second touch of the game.
The Arsenal forward secured his side with a goal early in stoppage time, despite coming on as a substitute. Spain beat Portugal 1-0 With Belgium reeling from this second goal, La Roja advanced to the semi-finals for the first time since winning the World Cup in 2010.
“I did it again, and it happened again, so it seems like coincidences exist,” Merino said with a smile. “If you’re ready and you work hard, it can happen to you too. I’m very, very happy.”
Ramens, Manchester United’s talented keeper, was forced into the game in the 71st minute after long-time Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was sent off with what appeared to be a thigh injury.
Courtois made four saves, but the Real Madrid keeper collapsed to the grass four minutes before being substituted. Although he received treatment during a hydration break, he left the match in tears.
Only Germany’s Manuel Neuer has played more World Cup matches than Courtois, and Rammens has yet to play in this year’s World Cup.
Belgium desperately tried to equalize in the closing stages with substitute forward Romelu Lukaku taking the lead, but Aymeric Laporte created a golden opportunity with an acrobatic volley from outside the area in the second minute of stoppage time.
Fabian Ruiz scored for Spain in the 30th minute, but Belgian forward Charles de Ketelaer scored Spain’s first goal allowed in the entire World Cup in the 41st minute.
Spain has maintained a 37-game unbeaten streak since March 2023, but Belgium’s 18-game unbeaten streak has come to an end.
After a cautious start for both teams in the second leg of the World Cup quarter-finals, Lamine Yamal and Pedro Polo moved the ball up the right flank, passing the ball to Dani Olmo, whose shot was stopped by Courtois as Spain broke through. The rebound hit Lewis, who scored his first goal of the tournament.
Luiz was making his first start since Spain’s World Cup opener, and de la Fuente’s somewhat surprising tactical decision to start in place of Pedri was further credited to his subsequent decision to substitute.
Spain did not concede a goal in the first five games of this tournament, and goalkeeper Unai Simon also did not concede a goal. world cup record 650 minutes to Qatar. The winning streak came to an abrupt halt when De Quetelaele raced past Kvarsi and headed home Timothy Castagne’s cross to score Belgium’s equaliser.
Belgium hadn’t produced anything close to strong scoring chances until the big moment for Atalanta forward De Quetelaele, who scored two goals in one game. Belgium defeats co-host USA 4-1 on monday.
Belgium captain Youri Tielemans was injured during the warm-up and was left out of the starting lineup. Kevin De Bruyne, back with Belgium, started, but played on the sideline alongside injured defender Amadou Onana.
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