07/06/26 04:24:00
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07/06 16:09 CDT Mikel Merino's late goal sends Spain to quarterfinals and ends
Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup career
Mikel Merino's late goal sends Spain to quarterfinals and ends Cristiano
Ronaldo's World Cup career
By SCHUYLER DIXON
AP Sports Writer
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) --- Mikel Merino scored seconds into second-half stoppage
time, and Spain beat Portugal 1-0 on Monday to end the World Cup career of
superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.
Merino had just been knocked down, and a foul was called. While a Portugal
player argued, Merino played the ball back in, ran toward the goal and put a
shot past goalkeeper Diogo Costa after taking a pass from Ferran Torres.
Spain advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time since winning its only
World Cup title in 2010 in South Africa. Spain will play either the United
States or Belgium on Friday in Los Angeles.
Ronaldo was trying to get Portugal to the quarterfinals in a second consecutive
tournament for the first time. Instead, the career on soccer's biggest stage is
over for the all-time leader in international goals.
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