World Cup 2026: Spain edge Portugal in stoppage time, Merino sends La Roja into the quarter-finals
Spain wobbled, Spain worried, but Spain got there. On Monday night in Arlington, La Roja beat Portugal 1-0 thanks to a 90th+1-minute strike from Mikel Merino to book their place in the World Cup quarter-finals. This was an all-Iberian scrap, high on intensity and packed with chances at both ends, and it looked destined for a draw until two substitutes made the difference in the closing seconds. Spain will face the winners of United States-Belgium in Los Angeles on Friday. At the other end, Cristiano Ronaldo was in tears at the final whistle, perhaps aware this was the end of his World Cup ride.
The first half was cracking, with huge chances for both sides. Oyarzabal somehow missed the target when clean through (8e), while Diogo Costa produced a brilliant save from a curling Alex Baena effort (16e) after already getting a hand to a Lamine Yamal shot. Dani Olmo then somehow failed to convert with the goal gaping from a Pedri cross (31e). Portugal nearly punished those misses: Unai Simon shoved away a Joao Felix header with his shoulder (37e) and then dived to stop a CR7 effort, before being spared by his crossbar when a Nuno Mendes curler, deflected by Porro (41e), bounced clear. It was a first half that should have produced a goal at each end.
The second half tightened up, with the stakes taking over from the football. Nuno Mendes going off injured in the 55th minute robbed Portugal of their biggest attacking weapon, after he had caused Lamine Yamal all sorts of problems throughout the night. The introduction of Ferran Torres for Alex Baena eventually changed the game. The Barcelona man, who has struggled badly since the tournament began, showed for the ball and linked up neatly with his club team-mates before slipping the decisive pass into the gap for Merino, who beat Diogo Costa (90e+1).
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Merino and Torres make the difference, Portugal come agonisingly close to an equaliser
Portugal had two last throws of the dice to force extra time. Bernardo Silva headed just over (90e+6), and Joao Neves saw his effort drift inches wide of Simon’s right post (90e+9). Two chances that could have turned it all around, but neither found the target. Spain can breathe again.
For La Roja, this win confirms their status as one of the favourites, a team that keeps moving through the tournament with a steady hand, even if they looked shaky at times in this one. Diogo Costa was Portugal’s standout performer in the tournament and produced key saves throughout the match. Spain will meet the United States or Belgium in Friday’s quarter-final in Los Angeles, determined to keep hold of their world title.
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