Netherlands 2-2 Spain: Late Mikel Merino equaliser leaves UEFA Nations League quarter-final first leg all square

Mikel Merino came off the bench to score a stoppage time equaliser as Spain rescued a point against the Netherlands in Rotterdam, leaving their UEFA Nations League quarter-final finely poised at 2-2 ahead of Sunday’s second leg.

The Netherlands were the better side for much of a fascinating encounter at De Kuip, but were punished late on after Jorrel Hato’s red card had given the visitors a numerical advantage for the final few minutes.

Hato’s lunging challenge on Robin Le Normand earned the young defender a straight red card on the 82nd minute, and bookended a tricky night for the Ajax left-back, who was robbed of possession by Lamine Yamal early in the game to gift Spain the space to set up Nico Williams for the opening goal of the match.

The Netherlands responded well to going behind after just nine minutes, and it was the home side who controlled the vast majority of the rest of the match, creating a number of dangerous opportunities, with right winger Jeremie Frimpong a constant threat.

Frimpong’s cross on 28 minutes was worked to Cody Gakpo to finish and level the scoring, and it was Frimpong again who carved Spain open just 40 seconds into the second half to set up Tijjani Reijnders.

But Spain prevented any further damage, with Amsterdam-born Dean Huijsen impressing in a hostile environment on his Spanish debut.

And Merino ensured the quarter-final is poised at 2-2 heading into Sunday’s second leg, tapping home from close range in stoppage time after Bart Verbruggen could only parry Williams’ shot straight to him.

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This result sets the Nations League quarter-final up beautifully ahead of Sunday’s second leg at the Mestalla in Valencia. The Netherlands were the better team for much of this game, but were unable to finish Spain off, and Hato’s red card gave the visitors just enough momentum to snatch that late equaliser. The winner of Sunday’s second leg will advance to the four-team finals in June, with Germany, Denmark and Croatia currently leading Italy, Portugal and France in their respective quarter-finals.

The final whistle goes and that late equaliser has earned Spain a 2-2 draw to take back home ahead of Sunday’s second leg.

The visitors have the equaliser right at the last. Nico Williams does brilliantly on the left, cutting in-field and getting a shot away, and Verbruggen can only parry it right into the path of the waiting Mikel Merino, who finishes into an unguarded net. 2-2!

The scorer of what looks like it could be the winning goal is withdrawn and on comes Wieffer.

The board shows there will be five additional minutes in this game and the hosts start it with a terrific run from Gakpo that gets his team up the field.

Huijsen goes for glory, shooting from miles out, and it’s a comfortable stop for the keeper. The home crowd jeer, but even they will have to quietly admit that the centre-back has impressed on his Spanish debut.

Spain attack and Williams cuts in from the left before looking to pick out the bottom corner with a whipped finish. He doesn’t quite get it right in the corner and Verbruggen makes the save.

Merino replaces Fabian Ruiz as Spain look to add fresh legs to take further advantage after that red card. Depay is sacrificed for the Netherlands, with De Ligt replacing him.

Hato is shown a straight red for a late challenge on Le Normand. The young defender was looking to burst forward with the ball but was slightly off balance, over-reaching for it, and caught Le Normand on the ankle with a lunging tackle. The Spanish players appeal en-masse for a harsh punishment and the referee, after discussion on his headset, agrees, showing a straight red card. The studs were raised, he caught Le Normand high on the ankle and it’s the right decision. A clumsy challenge rather than purposefully dangerous, but it’s a red all the same.

Gakpo finds Frimpong on the counter and he bursts clear down the right before picking out an excellent cutback to Simons, who shot takes a deflection and drifts wide. Van Dijk is pinged for a foul at the resulting corner and is booked for shoulder bumping Le Normand. He looks bemused by the decision, but replays show that it’s a good decision.

The visitors are starting to get hold of the ball for longer periods, forcing the Dutch deeper. This is more the pattern you’d expect from this game. Can they convert their possession into chances?

The home side introduce some fresh legs, with Simons and Koopmeiners replacing Kluivert and De Jong.

Ayoze Perez tackles Frimpong and thinks he’s come away with the ball, but the referee doesn’t just give a foul but also books the forward. Perez can’t believe it, but that yellow card will keep him out of the second leg.

Zubimendi looks to square the ball in the box which hits Van Dijk and squirts towards the bottom corner, with the Dutch keeper Verbruggen alert to the danger, turning the ball around the post.

The visitors aren’t at their usual level tonight and Luis de la Fuente makes a triple substitution to try and spark them into life. Perez, Oyarzabal and Olmo come on for Yamal, Morata and Pedri.

Frimpong takes some stopping when he gets going and the right winger jinks his way up-field, riding rash tackles all the way before finally getting the free-kick advantage.

Memphis Depay is having an excellent game and he does well to dig his team out of trouble, helping keep possession as the Netherlands work it up-field after a corner.

Dutch-born Spanish debutant Huijsen is late into a challenge and is booked. The home crowd enjoyed that!