Spain Advance to Quarterfinals After Narrow Win Over Portugal

Spain made FIFA World Cup history by becoming the first team to keep six straight clean sheets, beating Portugal 1-0 in the Round of 16 in Dallas. The defeat also meant Portugal failed to win back-to-back World Cup knockout matches for the first time since 2006.

After scoring four goals in his first four matches of the tournament, Mikel Oyarzabal looked dangerous again. He tested Diogo Costa with a long-range effort from around 25 yards, but the Portuguese goalkeeper made an easy save. Oyarzabal then had another good chance after being set up by Dani Olmo, but he sent his shot wide.

Cristiano Ronaldo also looked to add to his tally and had his first chance in the 12th minute. However, the tight angle made it easy for Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon to stop the effort. At the other end, Costa produced an impressive double save, first denying Lamine Yamal before quickly getting up to push away Alex Baena's rebound.

The first-half drinks break slowed the pace of the game, but Spain soon started attacking again. Around the 30-minute mark, Pau Cubarsi nearly got on the end of a Pedri cross into the box, but Diogo Costa reacted well and blocked the effort with his foot.

Portugal held off the pressure and finally created a good chance in the 37th minute. Joao Felix headed a deep cross back into the danger area for Cristiano Ronaldo, whose hooked effort was safely gathered by Unai Simon.

Portugal came close to taking the lead before half-time. After a short corner, Nuno Mendes struck a powerful shot towards goal, but Pedro Porro got a slight touch that sent the ball onto the crossbar, denying Portugal a deserved opener.

Neither team managed a shot on target during the opening 15 minutes of the second half. Spain eventually threatened when Pedri's effort, after a neat pass from Dani Olmo, was deflected over the bar. Alex Baena then forced a simple save from Diogo Costa before the Portugal goalkeeper tipped Lamine Yamal's free-kick over the crossbar after the second drinks break.

The match looked set for extra time until Spain finally broke the deadlock in the first minute of stoppage time. Substitute Mikel Merino made a perfectly timed run onto Ferran Torres' through ball and calmly finished past Costa to score the winner.

Spain have now beaten Portugal 1-0 in the World Cup Round of 16 for the second time, having also done so on their way to the final in 2010. Portugal came close to forcing extra time when Bernardo Silva headed over in the closing moments, but the defeat likely brought Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup career to an end, with a single semi-final appearance remaining his best finish.