Spain equalises late to snatch a draw against 10-man Netherlands in Rotterdam

Mikel Merino’s equaliser deep into stoppage time salvaged a thrilling 2-2 draw for Spain in the first leg of their UEFA Nations League quarter-final against the Netherlands. This result maintained Luis de la Fuente’s unbeaten record in the tournament, extending it to 10 matches (W8, D2).

As the inaugural runners-up of the Nations League, Spain understood the significance of a strong performance on home turf.

It was Spain who struck first, taking the lead within 10 minutes, courtesy of a defensive blunder by Jorrel Hato. Lamine Yamal and Pedri linked up effectively, with Pedri setting up Nico Williams, who finished with precision from close range.

Not long after, La Roja nearly added a second goal, but Alvaro Morata unfortunately skewed a promising header wide.

Eager to improve upon their fourth-place finish from 2023, the Dutch levelled the score when Cody Gakpo expertly slotted home Justin Kluivert’s lay-off into the bottom corner in the 28th minute.

With newfound momentum, Ronald Koeman’s side sought a second goal and came agonisingly close just before half-time, as Tijjani Reijnders’ volley hit the crossbar from just outside the box.

The Oranje capitalised on their resurgent form, taking the lead just 40 seconds after the restart, with Reijnders converting a low cross from Jeremie Frimpong into the far corner.

The flow of play favoured the visitors as the hour mark approached, with both Kluivert and Gakpo coming close to extending the lead in quick succession.

After a strong second-half showing, the Dutch seemed primed for a well-earned win but found their task complicated by a red card shown to Hato for a reckless challenge on Robin Le Normand in the 81st minute.

This pivotal incident gave Spain a numerical advantage late in the game, which they capitalised on, as substitute Merino latched onto a rebound and scored from eight yards out. This result continues La Roja’s impressive streak, with only one loss in their last 26 internationals (W22, D3).