MANILA — Spain broke Portugal’s resistance with a dramatic stoppage-time winner to book a place in the FIFA World Cup quarterfinals, while leaving the international future of Cristiano Ronaldo uncertain after a heartbreaking 1-0 Round of 16 defeat on Monday night (Tuesday in the Philippines) in Dallas.
Substitute Mikel Merino emerged as Spain’s hero, scoring in the opening minute of added time after racing onto a quickly taken free-kick before firing past goalkeeper Diogo Costa to finally separate two evenly matched sides.
The painful defeat could mark the end of Ronaldo’s illustrious international career, although the Portuguese captain stopped short of announcing his retirement after the match.
“I’m sad now after being eliminated like this… but I gave it all, my very best,” Ronaldo remarked after the loss. “I will wake up tomorrow with same mood as I did today. I did my best. I won three titles with Portugal, before me it was zero titles. I can only be happy.”
“I can’t confirm whether this was my last match for the national team or not. I don’t make my decisions in the heat of the moment or based on emotions. That’s not what’s important right now,” he added.
Spain dictated possession for long stretches and repeatedly threatened before finally finding the breakthrough in stoppage time.
Costa kept Portugal in the contest with two outstanding saves in the 16th minute, first denying Lamine Yamal after the young winger cut inside before reacting quickly to stop Álex Baena’s follow-up effort.
Portugal came close to scoring before halftime when Nuno Mendes’ deflected strike crashed off the crossbar, while Ronaldo’s effort from a difficult angle was parried away by Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón.
Spain maintained the pressure after the restart as Dani Olmo created a chance for Pedri, whose long-range shot was deflected over the bar. Baena and Yamal also forced Costa into more saves before Merino finally delivered the decisive goal deep into stoppage time.
In another Round of 16 match, Belgium eliminated co-host United States with a convincing 4-1 victory behind a brilliant performance from Charles De Ketelaere, who scored twice and set up another goal.
The Americans, boosted by the return of Folarin Balogun after FIFA controversially lifted his one-match suspension, were undone by costly defensive mistakes, while goalkeeper Matt Freese’s error gifted Belgium a third goal early in the second half.
Second-half substitute Romelu Lukaku sealed the victory with a stoppage-time strike as Belgium advanced to the quarterfinals in pursuit of its first FIFA World Cup title./PN
