Quarter-final
Spain 2-1 Belgium
This was tight and tense, just the way Spain like it.
And in the end they did enough to beat Belgium 2-1 and reach the semi-finals, thanks to their substitute Mikel Merino, who scored the late winner again.
Next comes a huge game against France, one of the best matches left in the whole tournament.
How the match went
This was another tight, tense night, and that is exactly how Spain like it.
Spain have the best defense left in this World Cup, and once again it took them all the way through.
But Belgium played hard and made this a close, tough game.
Spain got the first goal in the 30th minute.
And to be honest, there was a bit of luck in it.
Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois saved a shot from Spain forward Dani Olmo, but the ball bounced back off him.
Then Spain midfielder Fabian Ruiz was quickest to the rebound and scored to make it 1-0.
But Belgium scored straight back before half-time.
In the 41st minute their defender Timothy Castagne sent in a cross, and their forward Charles De Ketelaere scored with a header past Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon.
So it was 1-1 at half-time.
The second half stayed tense, and for a long time it looked like extra time was coming.
By now Belgium had their backup goalkeeper Senne Lammens in goal, in place of Thibaut Courtois.
Then came the mistake that decided the game.
In the 88th minute Spain's young defender Pau Cubarsi hit a low shot, and Lammens let it slip through his hands.
Spain's substitute Mikel Merino was there to score the rebound and make it 2-1.
And this felt very familiar, because Merino did the same thing in the last round.
He also came off the bench to score a late winner against Portugal, so he is becoming Spain's big-game hero.
At this point Belgium had no time left to come back.
Spain held on for a 2-1 win and a place in the semi-finals.
Key moments
- ⚽ 30' Fabián Ruiz (Spain)
- ⚽ 41' De Ketelaere (Belgium)
- ⚽ 88' Merino (Spain)
Goals in the order they were scored.
Match highlights
Watch on YouTube- Date
- Friday, July 10
- Kickoff Time
- 12:00 (Los Angeles time)
- Stage
- Quarter-final
- Stadium
- SoFi Stadium, Inglewood
What's next for Spain?
Spain are through to the semi-finals, and they are getting there the hard way, with tight, low-scoring wins.
Their defense is the best of any team still in the tournament, and it keeps winning them games even when they do not score many.
Next they play France, who beat Morocco 2-0 to reach the semi-finals too.
Get ready for a game between 2 of the best teams left, and it is hard to imagine a bigger match at this stage of the World Cup.
The end of the road for Belgium
Belgium are out, and this one will hurt because the game was tied 1-1 until the very last minutes.
They fought hard and scored a good goal through Charles De Ketelaere to make it 1-1.
But one mistake from their backup goalkeeper Senne Lammens ended their World Cup.
Even so, they can be proud of pushing one of the favorites almost all the way to the final whistle.
Common questions
What was the final score of Spain vs Belgium?
Spain won 2-1. It was 1-1 at half-time, and Mikel Merino scored the winner in the 88th minute to send Spain to the semi-finals.
Who scored for Spain against Belgium?
Fabian Ruiz scored first in the 30th minute, and substitute Mikel Merino got the winner in the 88th minute.
How did Spain score the late winner?
Belgium's backup goalkeeper Senne Lammens could not hold a low shot from Pau Cubarsi. The ball came loose, and substitute Mikel Merino was there to score and make it 2-1.