Spain beat Belgium 2-1 on Friday to move into a blockbuster World Cup semi-final against France after a hectic game decided by a goalkeeping error from Senne Lammens.
The unfancied Belgians had fought back from going a goal down to Fabian Ruiz’s strike on the half-hour mark at a boiling SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, with Charles De Ketelaere bringing them level on 41 minutes.
It was the first goal that Spain have conceded at this tournament.
As an increasingly tense quarter-final seemed to be heading for extra time, Pau Cubarsi unleashed a shot from 25 yards out that Manchester United ‘stopper Lammens couldn’t keep hold of and Mikel Merino was perfectly positioned to poke in the rebound.
It was a heartbreaking moment for Lammens but Merino, who had also delivered the killer blow to Portugal in the last 16, turned to the massed ranks of Spanish fans in the 70,000 crowd and celebrated.
Lammens was only on the pitch because first-choice ‘keeper Thibaut Courtois injured himself in the second half. The giant Courtois went to Lammens to console him at the final whistle.
Spain had needed that touch of fortune after being denied by the Belgian defence, who effectively shut down Lamine Yamal in a game which was far closer than many pundits had predicted.
