For 88 tense minutes in Los Angeles, Belgium’s depleted defence absorbed Spain’s pressure and remained level in a World Cup quarterfinal that kept shifting in momentum. Then Mikel Merino arrived where Spain needed him most.
The substitute reacted first when Senne Lammens spilled Pau Cubarsí’s low shot inside a crowded penalty area. Merino drove the rebound into the roof of the net, only two minutes after entering the match, and sent Spain into a semifinal against France.
Belgium had already lost captain Youri Tielemans during the warmup and entered without injured midfielder Amadou Onana. Their heaviest setback came after 71 minutes, when Thibaut Courtois left the field in tears with a leg muscle problem. Lammens replaced him and survived a difficult introduction until his late mistake decided the contest.
Fabián Ruiz had opened the scoring for Spain in the 30th minute. Charles De Ketelaere answered 11 minutes later, giving Belgium hope before Merino settled the match.
Spain Stretch Belgium Before Ruiz Strikes
Spain established control by moving the ball quickly through Rodri and Ruiz, then forcing Belgium’s compact defence to cover the full width of the pitch. Pedro Porro repeatedly overlapped on the right, while Lamine Yamal moved inside to receive between Belgium’s midfield and defensive lines.
That pattern produced the opening goal.
Yamal released Porro into space near the penalty area. The defender pulled the ball back toward Dani Olmo, whose first time strike forced Courtois into a sharp save. Ruiz attacked the loose ball and fired his finish through Timothy Castagne’s legs.
Starting ahead of Pedri, Ruiz gave Spain another midfielder willing to break beyond the forwards and enter the box. His selection brought an immediate reward, but Belgium refused to lose its shape or abandon its counterattacking threat.
Jérémy Doku carried the ball forward whenever Spain left space behind Porro. Kevin De Bruyne then found Castagne with a precise pass, allowing the defender to deliver an inviting cross toward the near post.
De Ketelaere moved ahead of Cubarsí and directed his header beyond Unai Simón in the 41st minute. It was the first goal Spain had conceded during the tournament and ended a run of 649 World Cup minutes without allowing one.
More importantly, the equaliser forced Spain to begin again.
Courtois Exit Changes The Mood
Spain resumed its pressure after the interval. Yamal forced another save from Courtois, while Mikel Oyarzabal tested the goalkeeper at his near post.
Belgium remained dangerous when Doku and De Bruyne found room to combine. Maxim De Cuyper offered their clearest second half threat, driving into the side netting after a quick move opened Spain’s defence.
Courtois soon felt pain while striking a long clearance. He attempted to continue and made further saves, but the discomfort returned. Rudi Garcia had no choice but to withdraw his injured goalkeeper.
The Belgian captain covered his face as he walked toward the bench. His teammates gathered around him before Lammens entered for his first World Cup appearance, with the score level and Spain pushing for a winner.
Courtois had made four saves and brought authority to Belgium’s penalty area. His departure did not immediately cause the defence to collapse, but it removed the player who had repeatedly rescued Belgium during Spain’s strongest spells.
Lammens initially handled the pressure well. Belgium dropped deeper as fatigue grew, with defenders blocking passing lanes and clearing several dangerous crosses.
Their resistance lasted until Merino entered in the 86th minute.
Merino Delivers Another Decisive Intervention
Cubarsí collected the ball outside the area as the match moved toward extra time. The defender struck a low shot that bounced just before reaching Lammens.
Belgium’s replacement goalkeeper failed to secure it. Merino had already followed the play into the box and swept the rebound beyond him in the 88th minute.
The timing was becoming familiar.
Merino had come from the bench four days earlier to score Spain’s stoppage time winner against Portugal. He also delivered the decisive goal against Germany during extra time at Euro 2024.
The only two winning goals scored by Spain substitutes in World Cup knockout matches now belong to Merino. Both arrived during this tournament.
His impact is not simply the product of fortunate rebounds. Luis de la Fuente uses him as a calculated late option when opponents tire and penalty areas become crowded. Merino offers height, strength and intelligent movement, but his anticipation may be his most valuable quality.
Spain finished with 17 shots and an expected goals figure of 2.08. Belgium produced five attempts and 0.37 expected goals. Those numbers reflected Spain’s control, although Belgium remained one defensive action away from forcing extra time.
Spain Turn Their Attention Toward France
Belgium still launched a final push. Romelu Lukaku led the attack, while Aymeric Laporte cleared the most dangerous late delivery with an athletic intervention inside the area.
Spain survived those final seconds and protected their narrow advantage. The defeat was harsh on a Belgium side weakened before kickoff and further damaged by Courtois’ exit.
Garcia’s team defended with discipline and found a clear attacking route through Doku, De Bruyne and De Ketelaere. Yet the pressure eventually became too heavy, and one mistake from a goalkeeper introduced during the most demanding stage of the match ended their tournament.
De la Fuente quickly turned his attention toward France, acknowledging the scale of the challenge while making clear that Spain would enter the semifinal without fear. “We’re going to work hard to try and beat France. They’ll be just as worried as we are,” the Spain coach said.
His words reflected Spain’s position after two demanding knockout victories. Their passing and positional control remain the foundation of the team, but squad depth has become equally important.
France will present a different test. Spain reach it with confidence, tactical variety and a substitute who has decided two knockout matches in four days.
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FAQs
Who scored Spain’s winning goal against Belgium?
Mikel Merino scored in the 88th minute. He converted the rebound after Senne Lammens spilled Pau Cubarsí’s low shot.
Why did Thibaut Courtois leave the match?
Courtois felt pain in his leg after taking a long clearance. Belgium replaced him with Lammens in the second half.
What was the final score between Spain and Belgium?
Spain defeated Belgium 2-1 in the World Cup quarterfinal.
Who will Spain play in the World Cup semifinal?
Spain will face France for a place in the World Cup final.
How quickly did Merino score after coming on?
Merino entered in the 86th minute and scored two minutes later.
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