Luis de la Fuente’s men had arguably gone under the radar en route to a first WC quarter-final since lifting the trophy in 2010, and faced a Red Devils team buoyed by eliminating co-hosts USA in the previous round.
La Roja - ranked second in the world - represented a big step up in opposition, and it was therefore unsurprising that the Iberians were the ones forcing the issue early in the game. Rodri’s shot was blocked by Nathan Ngoy, before Lamine Yamal sent a curling effort wide.
Belgium were containing Spain relatively well, but still fell a goal behind on the half-hour mark courtesy of Fabian Ruiz’s first-ever WC strike. Pedro Porro’s cross picked out Dani Olmo, whose initial shot was saved by Thibaut Courtois before the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder fired home on the rebound.
Spain looked to be in control of proceedings from that point, with Courtois denying Yamal from a free-kick, but Rudi Garcia’s side restored parity against the run of play in the 41st minute.
Charles De Ketelaere scored the first goal against Spain at these finals with a fine header from Timothy Castagne’s cross, as a previously impenetrable defence was finally breached.
De la Fuente’s team were peppering around the Belgium box after the restart with their brand of tika-taka football in search of a second goal.
Yamal was the heart of everything going forward, flashing a shot wide and forcing Courtois into another save.
Belgium were waiting to strike on the counter-attack, and almost engineered a second goal of their own when Maxim De Cuyper hit the side-netting following a free-flowing move involving Jeremy Doku and Kevin De Bruyne.
It had been a fine performance between the sticks for Courtois, but the Real Madrid shot-stopper was visibly distraught after being withdrawn through injury and replaced by Senne Lammens.
The TV cameras then panned to Courtois in the 88th minute, as Merino scored for a second consecutive game after tapping in a loose ball from inside the six-yard box after Lammens parried Pau Cubarsi’s tame strike into the Arsenal midfielder’s path.
It was a goal which sets up a semi-final clash with France in Dallas next Tuesday, with De la Fuente becoming only the third head coach of a European nation to win each of his first seven knockout games at a major tournament.
Meanwhile, this defeat dumped out an ageing Red Devils side, who saw their 18-match unbeaten run (W12, D6) ended in the most agonising of circumstances.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Pau Cubarsi (Spain)
