Mikel Merino scored in the 93rd minute to rescue a 2-2 draw for Spain against 10-man Netherlands at Feyenoord’s De Kuip on Thursday in the first leg of their UEFA Nations League quarterfinals tie, Afrosport reports.
Nico Williams put Spain ahead early in the game, but Cody Gakpo drew the Dutch level with a sublime finish in the 28th minute. The hosts took the lead within a minute into the second half through Tijjani Reijnders, and with the game heading towards a win for the Netherlands, teenager Jorrel Hato was sent off in the 81st minute for a rash challenge on Robin Le Normand.
Merino, who came on in the 84th minute for Fabio Ruiz, scored the equaliser for La Roja nine minutes later to ensure they head back home without tasting defeat.
Late drama in Rotterdam
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— UEFA EURO (@UEFAEURO) March 20, 2025
Elsewhere, at the Poljud Stadium in Split, Croatia beat France 2-0 to end Les Bleus five-match unbeaten run despite Andrej Kramaric missing an eighth-minute penalty for the hosts.
First-half goals from Ante Budimir and Ivan Perisic were enough for the Croatians to secure a first-leg advantage in the rematch of the 2018 World Cup final.
A huge performance by Croatia
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— UEFA EURO (@UEFAEURO) March 20, 2025
Meanwhile, the battle to host the final stage of the Nations League was underway at San Siro in Milan, where Italy lost their lead to fall 2-1 to Germany.
Sandro Tonali put the Azzurri ahead in the ninth minute, but second-half headers from Tim Kleindienst and Leon Goretzka were enough to help Germany secure the comeback win.
At the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, Rasmus Hojlund came off the bench to score the winner in the 78th minute as Denmark beat Portugal 1-0.
The Manchester United forward, who came in for Mika Biereth, was on the pitch for nine minutes before sweeping home Andreas Skov Olsen’s low cross to give Denmark a slight advantage after Christian Eriksen lost a first-half penalty.
Rasmus Højlund scores the winner
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— UEFA EURO (@UEFAEURO) March 20, 2025
In Nations League promotion/relegation play-off action, Ukraine stunned Rudi Garcia’s Belgium with a 3-1 victory in Murcia.
Turkey beat Hungary 3-1 in Istanbul, while a Scott McTominay penalty gave Scotland a 1-0 win in Greece and Serbia held hosts Austria to a 1-1 stalemate.
The return fixtures for all the Nations League matches will take place on Sunday, 23 March.
