Merino's 88th-Minute Rebound Goal Sends Spain Past Belgium Into World Cup Semifinals
Mikel Merino scored off a late rebound to send Spain into the World Cup semifinals with a 2-1 win over Belgium.
A goal in the 88th minute from Mikel Merino — capitalizing on a rebound spilled by backup Belgium goalkeeper Senne Lammens — secured Spain's passage to the World Cup semifinals with a 2-1 quarterfinal victory over Belgium. The decisive moment came from the feet of Merino, who was on hand to convert after Lammens, a stand-in between the posts, could not hold onto the ball. The one-goal margin kept the tension alive deep into the match before Spain sealed the result. Spain's semifinal berth continues a strong run in the tournament, with Merino proving a key contributor in the knockout rounds. Belgium, whose regular goalkeeper was apparently unavailable, saw their World Cup end with Lammens unable to prevent the winning strike.
Why it matters
The result ends Belgium's World Cup campaign and puts Spain among the final four teams still competing for the title. It also highlights the pivotal role backup goalkeeping can play in high-stakes knockout matches.
What's next
Spain will face their yet-to-be-confirmed semifinal opponent as the World Cup knockout rounds continue.
Key facts
- Mikel Merino scored the winning goal in the 88th minute
- Spain defeated Belgium 2-1 in the World Cup quarterfinals
- The goal came from a rebound conceded by Belgium goalkeeper Senne Lammens
- Lammens was a backup, not Belgium's regular starting goalkeeper
- Spain advanced to the World Cup semifinals with the victory
Bias & framing notes
Both sources report identical core facts with near-identical wording, suggesting they drew from the same pool of match reporting. ABC News used the phrase 'stars again,' implying a pattern of strong Merino performances, while AP kept its headline purely descriptive — a minor framing difference with no factual conflict.
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