'Merino Decider' – Spain Beat Belgium 2-1 to Reach Semis, Set Up Clash with France

Spain defeated the "Red Devils" Belgium 2-1 in the North/Central America World Cup quarterfinal at the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, California, USA on the 11th.

With this win they booked their place in the semifinals — their first since winning the World Cup in 2010. Belgium, meanwhile, had been chasing their first semi since 2018, but will have to wait again.

The first half was dominated by Spain. They held a 55%–37% edge in possession, won 8% more duels, and outshot Belgium 9–2 — a one-sided affair on paper.

In the 13th minute, Álex Baena latched onto a through ball and tried a shot, but it was blocked by the Belgian defence. Spain appealed for a handball against the defender, but it wasn't given.

Eight minutes later, Lamine Yamal curled a left-footed effort from the top of the arc that whistled just wide.

Spain's persistence finally paid off in the 30th minute. Pedro Porro received a through ball and delivered a cross; Dani Olmo's shot was saved by the keeper, but Fabián Ruiz pounced on the rebound to ripple the net.

Spain kept pressing. Yamal tested the keeper again in the 35th and 40th minutes looking for a second, but both attempts sailed just off target.


Belgium, however, managed to flip the mood. In the 41st minute, Charles De Ketelaere equalised. Kevin De Bruyne sprayed a sublime pass out to Timothy Castagne on the right flank; Castagne's cross was met by De Ketelaere's header, restoring parity. It was also the first goal Spain had conceded at this tournament.

Reorganised at halftime, Spain went straight at Belgium after the break. In the 49th (4th min of 2H), Pau Cubarsí's through ball released Yamal one-on-one, but the flag went up for offside.

In the 55th (10th min of 2H), Belgium's Jérémy Doku burst down the wing and crossed for De Cuyper, whose shot rattled the side netting.

Both sides turned to the bench. In the 55th, Spain brought on Ferran Torres and Pedri, taking off Ruiz and Baena. In the 79th (34th min of 2H), they subbed Oyarzabal for Nico Williams.

Belgium responded: Trossard, De Cuyper and Faes (Panaken?) came off, with Romelu Lukaku, Axel Witsel and Joaquín Seys entering. In the 71st (26th min of 2H), injured keeper Thibaut Courtois was replaced by Séné Lammens.


The end-to-end stuff continued — mostly Spain knocking, Belgium looking to counter. There was a talking point, too: Lasse Schone… actually Belgium's Raskin lofted a cross that struck a Spanish defender's arm, but no handball was given.

In the 84th (39th min of 2H), Spain keeper Unai Simón came out to clear; De Bruyne collected the loose ball but couldn't get a shot away.

Two minutes later De Bruyne picked up a yellow for a rough foul and was swapped for Aleksandr… actually Alejandro? 

Spain retook the lead in the 88th (43rd min of 2H). Cubarsí's long-range strike was palmed poorly by substitute keeper Lammens, and Merino — also just on — gently tucked it home with his left foot to make it 2–1.

Spain, who'd dictated most of the second half, finally broke through late to seal it. For Belgium, losing starter Courtois to injury was a bitter blow — after the concession, Courtois sat on the bench with a heavy look on his face.


In the 2nd minute of added time, Saelemaekers beat the keeper but his cutback from the left was blocked by defence.

Meanwhile, the match drew 70,492 spectators. With host nation USA having already been knocked out, there were fears of a flat atmosphere — but those proved unfounded.