Spain Eliminates Portugal with Late Goal, Ending Ronaldo's World Cup Dream

Tense Match Decided in Injury Time

Spain and Portugal played a tightly contested match, with the decisive moment coming only in stoppage time. Spain won 1-0, delivering a bitter disappointment to Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates.

In the first half, both teams had several dangerous chances. Early on, Mikel Oyarzabal sent the ball just past Portugal's right post. In the 16th minute, Aleix Baena's shot was saved by Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa, and in the 31st minute, Dani Olmo shot wide. Portugal responded with two dangerous attacks near the end of the half. In the 37th minute, Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón saved a shot from Ronaldo, and in the 41st minute, Nuno Mendes hit the crossbar.

The second half saw fewer clear chances, and both teams made a total of eight substitutions, with Portugal using all five allowed. The match seemed headed for a goalless draw when, in the first minute of added time, the decisive moment arrived. After a quickly taken free kick, Ferran Torres (who came on in the 75th minute) passed to Mikel Merino (who had entered ten minutes later), and Merino found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper. He placed the ball into the bottom left corner to make it 1-0.

This defeat means Portugal will not qualify for the World Cup, a particularly painful outcome for Ronaldo, for whom this was likely his last chance to play in the tournament.