Los Angeles, July 11 -- Mikel Merino emerged as Spain's knockout-stage saviour once again, scoring a dramatic 88th-minute winner as La Roja defeated Belgium 2-1 in a pulsating FIFA World Cup quarterfinal to storm into their first World Cup semifinal in 16 years.
With extra time looming, Merino came off the bench and needed less than two minutes to make the decisive impact, pouncing on a rebound after substitute goalkeeper Senne Lammens failed to hold Pau Cubarsi's low drive. The late strike capped a relentless Spanish assault and shattered Belgium's resistance at SoFi Stadium.
The victory keeps Spain's dream of reclaiming the World Cup alive for the first time since their historic triumph in South Africa in 2010, while setting up a mouth-...