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Spain send host Germany out of Euro 2024 to reach semi-finals
Merino celebrates his goal for Spain
Next Stay The Interesting Things About Pha Din Pass, Dien Bien That Just A Few People Know 40 42 00:00 00:00 / 00:00 10 Sec Published By: Kazeem Ugbodaga
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
Mikel Merino scored a late extra time goal on Friday to send Spain into Euro 2024, knocking out host Germany.
The match ended 1-1 after 90 minutes, but Merino won it for Spain in the 119th minute to give his side a 2-1 victory.
Merino burst into the box to get on the end of a whipped in cross from Dani Olmo and scored magnificently from close range into the left side of the goal.
Dani Olmo had opened the scoring for Spain in the 51st minute after a goalless first half.
He showed off his superb ability as he volleyed the ball from inside the box into the bottom left corner after he was assisted by Lamine Yamal.
In the 69th minute, a big opportunity was wasted by Robert Andrich, who made a yard for himself and produced a mid-range rocket of a shot towards the bottom right corner. Unfortunately for him, Unai Simon pulled off a fantastic save to stop the effort.
Two minutes later, Kai Havertz had an effort from inside the box but it was brilliantly blocked.
In the 77th minute, Niclas Fullkrug wasted a clear opportunity. He fired a first-time shot from point-blank range, but it rattled the right post.
Germany equalised one minute to the end of the match. Joshua Kimmich met a cross inside the box and headed the ball across the goal, where Florian Wirtz lurked and poked it into the back of the net, dragging the match into extra time.
In the 94th minute, Thomas Muller smacked a great volley at goal from inside the box, but sent the effort just wide of the right post.
A minute into first half of extra time added time, a big opportunity was missed by Wirtz. He got on the ball inside the box and thumped a splendid first-time shot on goal, but it went narrowly wide off the right post.
In the 107th minute, Marc Cucurella appeared to handle the ball in the box, but the referee turned down the penalty appeals and waved play on.
In the 117th minute, Fullkrug met a splendid cross on the edge of the 6-yard box and sent the ball towards the left post, forcing Unai Simon into a superb diving save to keep it out.
Six minutes into added time, Daniel Carvajal made a bad challenge and received a second yellow card from Anthony Taylor and was sent off.
