Spain is in the quarterfinals of the World Cup. The Spanish beat Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal 1-0 on Monday afternoon, at the AT&T Stadium, in Texas (USA), and guaranteed a place in the next phase. Merino found the back of the net in second-half stoppage time and sealed the Spanish victory.
Spain scores late and sends Portugal out of the World Cup
Spain is in the quarterfinals of the World Cup. The Spanish beat Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal 1-0 on Monday afternoon, at the AT&T Stadium, in Texas (USA), and guaranteed a place in the next phase. Merino found the back...
Cristiano Ronaldo went blank against Spain, and the elimination marked the star's goodbye to the World Cups. The star had already confirmed that this would be his last World Cup. CR7 ended the 'last dance' with three goals scored: two against Uzbekistan, in the group stage, and one against Croatia, in the round of 32.
In the next phase, Spain will face the winner of the duel between the United States and Belgium, which will be played this Monday, at 9 pm (Brasília time), at Lumen Field, in Seattle (USA). Meanwhile, CR7's Portugal said goodbye to the World Cup.
The quarterfinal clash is scheduled for this Friday, July 10th, at 4pm, at SoFi Stadium, in Los Angeles.
The first chance of the game came after six minutes. Cancelo finished from outside the area and sent it over the goal. Two minutes later, Spain responded. Olmo passed a great ball to Oyarzabal, who was alone face to face with Diogo Costa, but took too much and crossed the ball wide. At 11 minutes, Portugal arrived with Cristiano Ronaldo. The star pedaled and shot hard from inside the area, and Unai Simón saved it for a corner.
At 15 minutes, Spain arrived twice. Lamine Yamal invaded the area, cut to the middle and hit the ball, and Diogo Costa saved. In the remainder, it was Baena's turn to try for a well-placed shot, but the Portugal goalkeeper tried again and sent it out for a corner. With 30 minutes, Spain got scared again. After the ball was sent into the area, Diogo Costa saved and, on the rebound, Olmo headed out.
With 37 minutes, it was Portugal who had the opportunity to open the scoring. João Félix headed towards the middle and Unai Simón deflected it. The remainder went to Cristiano Ronaldo, who became a kind of 'trick', but the Spanish goalkeeper recovered well and fit in. In the 40th minute, Nuno Mendes risked a shot from outside the area, the ball deflected and hit the crossbar, helping Spain.
15 minutes into the second half, Spain was once again in danger. Rodri rolled the ball to Pedri, who hit it first time from the edge of the area and the ball was deflected for a corner. In the 19th minute, Baena risked a low shot from the edge of the area and Diogo Costa saved.
In the 27th minute, Yamal took a free kick straight towards the goal and Diogo Costa sent it for a corner. From the kick, Baena hit the ball, the goalkeeper blocked it and Portugal's defense cleared it. With 30 minutes, it was Portugal's turn to respond. João Neves took a risk from outside the area and the ball deflected. Bruno Fernandes got to Cucurella's body and shot hard at the goal, but it hit the net from the outside.
It was already in stoppage time, 46 minutes into the second half, that the score was opened at AT&T Stadium. After a quick free kick, Ferran Torres received it between the lines and played deep to Merino. The midfielder received it alone inside the area and hit the goalkeeper's exit to score the Spanish qualifying goal.
In the last minute, Portugal had a chance to tie the game. After a cross, Bernardo Silva headed the ball up, and the ball went very close to the crossbar. In the end, Spain held on to the result and secured their place in the quarterfinals.
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