Belgium end Unai Simon's record 650-minute shutout streak; Spain reach World Cup semis
Spain defeated Belgium 2-1 to advance to the FIFA World Cup semifinals, ending goalkeeper Unai Simón's record 650-minute shutout streak. Mikel Merino scored the decisive late goal to secure the victory after Belgium had equalized earlier in the match.
Why it matters
The match marks a significant milestone in international football history due to the broken defensive record and Spain's continued progression in a major global tournament.
Spain's incredible defensive run at the FIFA World Cup finally came to an end, but it was not enough to stop them from reaching the semifinals. Goalkeeper Unai Simón's record 650-minute shutout streak was snapped by Belgium in the quarterfinal on Friday before Spain secured a 2-1 victory thanks to a late goal from Mikel Merino.Belgium became the first team to score against Spain in this World Cup when Charles De Ketelaere found the net in the 41st minute, ending Simón's remarkable run without conceding a goal. Despite that setback, Spain kept their title hopes alive and will now face tournament favourites France in the semifinals on Tuesday.Simón sets new World Cup recordBefore Belgium's goal, Simón had gone 650 minutes without conceding in the World Cup, setting a new tournament record.
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