Spain have defeated Portugal 1-0 in stoppage time in the Round of 16 to secure a place in the World Cup quarterfinals.
Merino broke the deadlock in the first minute of added time at AT&T Stadium outside Dallas to send the Spaniards into a last-eight clash against either Belgium or the United States in Los Angeles on Friday.
In front of an expectant crowd of 70,649 at the air-conditioned home of the Dallas Cowboys, a match that on paper promised so much failed to really deliver.
Extra time looked certain before fellow substitute Ferran Torres slipped in Merino to settle the contest in the first minute of injury time.
It meant a sour final World Cup match for the 41-year-old Ronaldo, now playing in Saudi Arabia, having confirmed on the eve of the encounter that this would be his last dance on football’s biggest stage.
The neighbours came into the contest both unbeaten, but while Portugal had not been entirely convincing, Spain had not even conceded a goal in the tournament.
One of the pre-tournament favourites, they still haven’t.
For all their pedigree, talent and history, Spain have only lifted the World Cup once, in 2010, while Portugal’s best was third place in 1966.
In Ronaldo and Spain’s 18-year-old Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal, the last-16 showdown was touted as a showcase of two extraordinary talents at opposite ends of their careers.
Ronaldo cheered, jeered
