Spain ends Ronaldo’s World Cup dream as they reach quarter-finals

Spain reached the quarter-finals with a 1-0 win over Portugal thanks to a last-minute winner from substitute Mikel Merino. Monday’s defeat ended Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup career.

The European champions will face either Belgium or the sole surviving co-hosts, the United States, in Los Angeles next Friday.

The match, which had high expectations on paper in front of 70,649 hopeful spectators in the air-conditioned stadium of the Dallas Cowboys, did not fully materialize on the field.

Just when it seemed certain that the match would go into extra time, Merino decided the fate of the match by scoring a goal in the first minute of injury time from a pass from another substitute, Ferran Torres.

It was a bittersweet final World Cup match for the 41-year-old Ronaldo, currently playing in Saudi Arabia. The day before the match, he had confirmed that this would be his ‘last dance’ on football’s biggest stage.

Both neighbours entered the competition undefeated, but while Portugal have not been entirely satisfactory throughout the tournament, Spain have yet to concede a single goal.

They still hold that record as one of the tournament’s favorite teams.

Despite all this fame, talent, and history, Spain has only won the World Cup trophy once, in 2010. Portugal’s highest achievement, on the other hand, was a third-place finish in 1966.

The last-16 match was billed as a clash of two extraordinary talents from opposite generations: Portugal’s Ronaldo and Spain’s 18-year-old Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal.

An emotional moment was created when a black-and-white photo of the late Portugal forward Diogo Jota appeared on a giant screen hanging above the field just before the game began.

Spain should have taken the lead within the first 10 minutes of the game. Mikel Varzabal received the ball from Dani Olmo’s pass, but with only goalkeeper Diogo Costa in front, he shot the ball wide of the post.

Portugal captain Ronaldo had his first chance to extend his tally to three in North America, but his shot from a tight angle was narrowly saved by goalkeeper Unai Simeone.

Luis de la Fuente’s Spain continued to press. Yamal and Alex Baena tested Costa twice in quick succession, the second of which Costa saved brilliantly with his fingertips.

In the twilight of his career, Ronaldo’s presence was limited in the attacking role he now plays in the middle of the pitch. The crowd was simultaneously cheering him on and off.

Portugal dominated late in the first half. Roberto Martinez’s side came close to taking the lead when Spain full-back Pedro Porro headed the ball over their own crossbar to block a shot from Nuno Mendes.

Winger Yamal Mendes was having a frustrating time playing against him, but it was a major blow for Portugal when Paris Saint-Germain full-back Mendes was injured and left the field in the 56th minute.

The match needed a new momentum. Ronaldo, well-known to Spanish players thanks to his time at Real Madrid, was throwing up his hands in frustration after a pass went wide.

Martinez made a pair of substitutions in the 71st and 83rd minutes, but left Ronaldo on the field.

And in the end, in a cautious match, Arsenal midfielder Merino secured the win with a calm and controlled finish at the very last moment, which was completely out of keeping with the chaotic conditions that had prevailed earlier in the match.