Spain beats Belgium: Spain has booked its ticket for the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Spain defeated Belgium 2-1 in the quarter-final match played at Los Angeles Stadium. Spain won the match in the last moments, in which the role of Michael Merino was once again important. Earlier, Merino had also played a decisive role in Spain’s victory in the Round of 16 match. Michael Merino has now created history by doing wonders for Spain in the last minutes of back to back knock out matches.
First half of the match equal 1-1
The first half of the quarter-final match between Spain and Belgium was tied at 1-1. The first goal of the match was scored by Fablan Ruiz for Spain in the 30th minute. In the 41st minute, Belgium’s Charles de Catherine equalized the score by putting the ball into Spain’s goal post.
Marino turned the tables in the last minute
The game of the second half was even more intense and full of thorns. At one time it seemed that the match would not be decided within the stipulated time. But, Michael Marino, playing as a substitute player, did again in the last minutes of the match what he had done earlier also. Merino scored a goal in the 88th minute, which ensured Spain’s victory and gave it a ticket to the semi-finals.
Marino’s habit of turning the tables in the last minutes!
Michael Merino, playing as a substitute player, had earlier scored a goal in the last moments against Portugal in the Round of 16 and led Spain to victory. He scored that goal in the first minute of extra time of the match i.e. 91st minute.
Before that, in the Euro 2024 quarter-final match against Germany, Michael Merino had given Spain victory by scoring a goal in the 119th minute of the match.
Spain’s Merino made a record
Michael Merino is the first Spanish player since David Vea in 2010 to score goals in two consecutive World Cup knock-out matches. He is also the first player in the history of the FIFA World Cup to score the winning goal in two knock-out matches as a substitute.
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