Spain defeats Belgium 2-1 to reach World Cup semifinal

Spain advanced to the FIFA World Cup semifinals on Friday, July 10, after a dramatic 2-1 victory over Belgium in a quarterfinal match at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. The decisive goal came in the 88th minute when substitute Mikel Merino scored from close range after Belgium's backup goalkeeper, Senne Lammens, failed to hold a long-range shot from Pau Cubarsi.

Spain took the lead in the 30th minute through Fabian Ruiz, but Belgium leveled the score before halftime with a goal from Charles De Ketelaere in the 41st minute. That goal ended a remarkable defensive streak for Spain, halting goalkeeper Unai Simón's World Cup record of not conceding for 650 minutes. The match's pivotal moment arrived in the 71st minute when Belgium's captain and first-choice goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, was forced to leave the pitch with a muscular injury to his right leg. He was replaced by the 24-year-old Lammens, who was making his World Cup debut.

Courtois later stated he felt pain after a clearance early in the second half but believed he could have continued playing, noting the injury primarily affected his ability to kick long balls but not his shot-stopping. He said the decision to substitute...