Arsenal’s Mikel Merino scored a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser to secure Spain a 2-2 draw against the Netherlands in the first leg of their Nations League quarter-final. Merino, a second-half substitute, found the back of the net from close range after Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen parried a low shot from Nico Williams directly into his path.
Williams had earlier given Spain the lead in the first half with a clever finish, capitalizing on a mistake by Dutch full-back Jorrel Hato, who lost possession deep inside his own half. However, the Netherlands quickly responded and equalized before the hour mark. Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo drove home a powerful low shot following a well-placed pass from Bournemouth’s Justin Kluivert.
The visitors then seemed to have taken control early in the second half when Tijjani Reijnders’ low shot, 39 seconds after the restart, put the Netherlands ahead, giving them a narrow advantage going into the second leg. However, Spain’s hopes were revived after Hato was shown a red card with nine minutes remaining. In the dying moments, Merino capitalized on the extra man to score and secure a valuable draw for the European champions.
Merino’s late strike extended Spain’s unbeaten run in all competitions to 17 matches, dating back to a 1-0 friendly loss to Colombia in March of the previous year. Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen, who was born in the Netherlands but lived in Spain from the ages of five to 16, made his senior debut for La Roja late in the first half after an injury to Barcelona’s Pau Cubarsi.
The tie now heads to Valencia for the second leg on Sunday, with the winners set to face either Croatia or France in the semi-finals.
