Spain are through to the World Cup quarter-finals after a 1-0 win over Portugal in Dallas, decided by Mikel Merino’s stoppage-time finish. Portugal’s defeat ended their tournament and closed Cristiano Ronaldo’s final World Cup appearance.
The decisive moment came in the 90+1st minute, when Merino converted after a pass from Ferran Torres. Until then, the match had offered chances but little separation, with Diogo Costa making important saves and Portugal unable to turn promising moments into a goal.
Ronaldo was reported as the only Portugal player to put a shot on target, underlining how effectively Spain controlled the defensive side of the tie. Spain also extended their run to six straight World Cup clean sheets and have yet to concede in this tournament.
For Spain, the result marks a return to the quarter-finals for the first time since their 2010 title-winning campaign. They will next face the winner of the United States vs Belgium, while Portugal are left to process a narrow exit on a night carrying major significance for Ronaldo.
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