Merino strikes at the death for Spain to send Portugal packing

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Portugal 0-1 Spain

Substitute Mikel Merino scored in ⁠added time as Spain beat Portugal 1-0 to advance to the World Cup quarter-finals and extend their run in the competition without conceding a goal.

Merino struck in the 91st minute after fellow ‌substitute Ferran Torres slipped a through ⁠pass behind Portugal’s ‌defence.

The Spaniards will now face either the USA or Belgium in the last eight.

Portugal’s loss likely marks the last World Cup appearance for 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, who had three goals at his sixth World Cup appearance.

Unlike Argentina’s Lionel Messi, who won the 2022 tournament in his fifth appearance and reached ‌the 2014 final, Ronaldo will ⁠complete his journey without reaching a final. Portugal’s best showing during his tenure came via a semi final run in his 2006 tournament debut.

Merino’s winner, his first goal of the tournament after scoring six for Spain in qualifying, came after what was a largely uneventful second half, and from a seemingly ‌innocent restart well beyond the penalty arc.

Ferran Torres and Fabian Ruiz combined through the middle to play Merino into the ⁠penalty area alone, where his low finish beat the charging Diogo Costa inside the ‌left post.

Dormant for most of the second half, Portugal’s attack finally showed ⁠signs of life ‌in search of a miracle equalizer. Bernardo Silva came closest to levelling with a header narrowly over the bar six minutes into the added time.

But it would’ve been undeserved, with Portugal scarcely making goalkeeper Unai Simon ⁠work. He finished with only two saves.

Spain had the better start. Mikel Oyarzabal missed wide in the ninth minute after an excellent early attack solved Portugal’s offside trap, and eight minutes later, Lamine Yamal and Alex Baena forced Costa into a double save.

Portugal grew into the half. Ronaldo forced Simon into a leaping but ultimately comfortable save in the 37th minute, and ‌four minutes later, Nuno Mendes’ thunderously struck attempt deflected off Pedro Porro and onto the crossbar.

Spain will now head to the west coast for their quarter-final clash against either USA or Belgium as they continue their quest to secure a second World Cup title.