Spain beat Portugal on late Merino goal to reach World Cup quarterfinals

Mikel Merino’s stoppage-time goal sent Spain past Portugal 1-0 on Monday and into the World Cup quarterfinals, according to the Associated Press. The result also likely closed Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup career at age 41, AP reported.

Merino scored in the first minute of second-half stoppage time after taking a quick free kick following a foul, AP said. He continued his run toward goal, received a pass from Ferran Torres and beat Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa.

Spain will play either the United States or Belgium on Friday at Los Angeles Stadium, according to AP. The win put Spain in the quarterfinals for the first time since its 2010 title run in South Africa, the country’s only World Cup championship.

Portugal had been trying to reach the quarterfinals for a second straight World Cup, something AP said the national team has not done before. Ronaldo, the all-time leader in men’s international goals and appearances, ends the tournament with 146 goals and 233 caps, according to AP.

Ronaldo scored three goals at this World Cup, AP reported, but Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon limited his chances in Arlington. Simon made two first-half saves from Ronaldo shots, including a diving stop while reaching back to secure the ball with both hands, AP said.

Merino entered the match in the 85th minute, according to AP. The midfielder’s late contribution followed a season affected by injuries, though AP said his versatility had been part of Arsenal’s first Premier League title in more than 20 years in May.

Spain extend shutout streak

Spain set a World Cup record with a sixth straight clean sheet, AP reported. Simon stretched his own scoreless run to 609 minutes, passing the previous mark of 517 minutes during Spain’s 3-0 win over Austria in the knockout round.

AP said Spain moved ahead of Italy’s 1990 team and Switzerland’s 2006-10 run for the longest sequence of World Cup matches without allowing a goal. Spain’s streak began with a 0-0 draw against Morocco in the 2022 round of 16, a match Morocco won on penalties.

At this tournament, AP reported, Spain opened group play with a scoreless draw against Cape Verde, then followed with four straight shutout wins before beating Portugal. Simon’s personal shutout streak began during Spain’s 2-1 loss to Japan in the 2022 group stage, according to AP.

Simon entered the Portugal match with four saves in the tournament, AP said, and Austria did not put a shot on target in the previous round. Portugal forced him into action early, but Spain produced the better chances before Merino decided the match late.

Rivals meet again

The match added another chapter to a rivalry that began with a friendly in Madrid 105 years ago, according to AP. Their previous World Cup meeting was a 3-3 draw eight years earlier, when Ronaldo scored his only World Cup hat trick in a group-stage opener.

This time, AP reported, Spain controlled enough of the danger to avoid extra time and a possible penalty shootout. Merino’s goal left Portugal out and moved Spain within one win of its first World Cup semifinal appearance since 2010.

This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.