Spain Sets World Cup Record With Fifth Straight Clean Sheet Victory
Spain secured a historic 1-0 victory over Portugal to advance to the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time since 2010. The winning goal came in stoppage time from Mikel Merino, who was substituted on in the 85th minute and scored in the 90+1 minute following an assist from Fran Torres. Spain will next face the winner of the United States vs. Belgium match.
This win marked Spain's fifth consecutive victory in the tournament, with the team maintaining a clean sheet in every game. Goalkeeper Unai Simón has now gone 609 minutes without conceding a goal, setting a new World Cup record. Spain has kept a clean sheet in six consecutive World Cup matches, an unprecedented achievement.
Additionally, Spain remains unbeaten in its last 35 matches, matching the longest unbeaten streak in its history from 2007 to 2009, which included 26 wins and 9 draws. Coach Luis de la Fuente also made history by becoming the third coach ever to remain unbeaten in his first 12 World Cup games, with 11 wins and one draw, joining the ranks of Aimé Jacquet and Louis van Gaal.
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