LOS ANGELES (United States) (AFP) – Super sub Mikel Merino broke Belgian hearts and sent Spain through to a World Cup semi-final against France with a late goal in a gripping 2-1 win on Friday._x000D_
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The stunning finish at SoFi Stadium sets up a tantalizing showdown between European champions Spain and the tournament favorites France and the red-hot Kylian Mbappe in Dallas on Tuesday._x000D_
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But it was heartbreak for Belgium’s substitute goalkeeper Senne Lammens, sent on late, who spilled a shot into the path of Merino._x000D_
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The dramatic finale came after Fabian Ruiz had opened the scoring for Spain, before Charles De Ketelaere grabbed one back for Belgium against the run of play before halftime._x000D_
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Welcoming Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku back to the starting XI, Belgium were rocked by a hamstring injury during the warm-ups to captain Youri Tielemans that hit them hard._x000D_
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Having already lost Amadou Onana to a ruptured ACL, the Red Devils would have to play a near second-choice midfield against the Spanish possession masters._x000D_
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Ruiz, brought in for Pedri, wasted no time combining with Rodri to dominate the ball and Barcelona’s teen sensation Lamine Yamal curled an early shot just wide of the far post._x000D_
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But opposing winger Doku was bright for Belgium, cutting in from the left to feed De Ketelaere, the striker fresh from his brace against the United States on Monday._x000D_
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Still, it was Spain who struck first. On the half-hour mark, Pedro Porro played a sharp one-two with Lamine Yamal before expertly cutting it back from near the byline to Dani Olmo._x000D_
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Olmo’s shot was parried by Thibaut Courtois, but fell to Ruiz, who fired it home._x000D_
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Suddenly it was all Spain. They pinged passes around the Belgian half as though this World Cup quarter-final was a training exercise, laid on for an A-list crowd featuring Brad Pitt, Penelope Cruz and Noel Gallagher._x000D_
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But Belgium, having fought back astonishingly late from 2-0 down in the round-of-32 to dispatch Senegal, did not panic._x000D_
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They grabbed one back in the 41st minute. De Bruyne slid a through ball wide to Timothy Castagne. His cross found De Ketelaere, who perfectly timed his run and outmuscled Barcelona youngster Pau Cubarsi to head home._x000D_
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It was the first goal Spain had conceded this World Cup._x000D_
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Improbably, Belgium almost grabbed another before half-time. Breaking from a Spain corner, De Ketelaere’s pass to a totally clear Doku was barely intercepted by Olmo._x000D_
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Yamal grew into the game after the break, nearly finding Mikel Oyarzabal with an incisive cross that was well blocked by a charging Courtois._x000D_
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Belgian coach Rudi Garcia brought on veteran striker Romelu Lukaku, who had scored from the bench in three straight games._x000D_
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The game opened up. A Belgian cross hit Rodri’s arm but the impact was deemed accidental. Oyarzabal had a shot saved from a close, tight angle._x000D_
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A tearful Courtois was forced off by injury after 70 minutes. He was replaced by Lammens, the 24-year-old Manchester United ‘keeper making his World Cup debut in daunting circumstances._x000D_
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It turned out to be a nightmare._x000D_
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In the 88th minute, Cubarsi shot low from range, and Lammens should have held onto the ball. Instead substitute Mikel Merino was first to the rebound, smashing it home._x000D_
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It was the Arsenal midfielder’s second straight late winner from the bench, after he scored the crucial goal against Portugal in stoppage time on Monday._x000D_
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Late on Alexis Saelemaekers rounded Unai, but was unable to find Lukaku in front of an open goal._x000D_
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As the whistle blow, Courtois came out to embrace a distraught Lammens, while other members of Belgium’s ageing “Golden Generation” stood immobile and disbelieving._x000D_
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For Spain there were embraces and fist pumps, before attention quickly turns to their blockbuster clash with France.
