A brilliant moment in stoppage time saw Spain break Portuguese hearts and book their place in the quarter-finals of the World Cup. Substitute Mikel Merino’s long-range strike sealed a tight 1-0 victory over Iberian rivals Portugal at the AT&T Stadium on Monday, putting the curtain on Cristiano Ronaldo’s illustrious World Cup career.In a cage match that seemed to deserve extra time, the decisive moment arrived in the 91st minute. Immediately after the arrest, Arsenal midfielder Merino showed a smart presence. When the Portuguese defense stopped, against the referee’s whistle, Merino resumed playing. He took the ball out, raced into the box, and calmly flicked a clinical back pass from Ferran Torres past a helpless Diogo Costa.It was a skill from Luis de la Fuente, who introduced Merino in the 85th minute. The midfielder, who endured a season of injury but still helped Arsenal win their first Premier League title in more than two decades, became a big sign in Spain.The win is historic for La Roja, who have reached the quarterfinals for the first time since their 2010 victory in South Africa. The victory was anchored by an impenetrable defence; Goalkeeper Unai Simón extended his World Cup record to 609 minutes without conceding, establishing Spain as the first team to score six consecutive goals in the tournament’s history.For Portugal and 41-year-old Ronaldo, it was a bitter and tearful farewell. The international icon, bowed with an impressive 146 goals and 233 appearances, was out of work overnight with the Spanish back line.Eight years after Ronaldo scored a thrilling 3-3 hat-trick between these teams in Russia, this 105-year-old rivalry was ended by defense and quick thinking. Spain will now travel to Inglewood, California, to face the USA or Belgium on Saturday.