Spain defeated Portugal 1-0 on Monday to end Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup dream and reach the quarter-finals as the United States aimed to shrug off controversy surrounding reprieved striker Folarin Balogun in a last-16 showdown with Belgium.
Spanish substitute Mikel Merino coolly slotted the winner in the first minute of stoppage time to seal victory in a dour contest between the Iberian football rivals at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Spanish victory sends the 2010 champions into a quarter-final on Friday against either the United States or Belgium, who meet in Seattle later on Monday.
The defeat marked a sad farewell to the World Cup for Portugal captain Ronaldo, the 41-year-old superstar playing in his sixth edition of the tournament.
Former Manchester United and Real Madrid star Ronaldo, who has struggled to reproduce his best form during a challenging campaign in the United States, had long dreamed of adding a World Cup winner's medal to his collection of honours amassed over a career that has straddled three decades.
But the striker was rarely more than a peripheral figure in a performance that saw Portugal muster just two shots on target, compared to Spain's six. Ronaldo said afterwards he would take time to consider his future following the defeat. "It was my last World Cup, yes, but I'll have time to think about the rest, to be with my family, not make rash decisions, and just get on with life," Ronaldo said.
"That's football, that's the life of a footballer. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and you have to move on." European champions Spain struggled to break down the Portuguese, but finally took the lead in stoppage time, Merino latching on to a through ball from a quick free kick and prodding a low finish past Diogo Costa.
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