Croatia 1-2 Spain: Merino's Late Double Completes Comeback
Spain came from behind to beat Croatia 1-2 in Split, with Mikel Merino scoring twice including a late winner in the Nations League.
- Mikel Merino scores twice, including an 88th-minute winner, to turn the game around for Spain
- Croatia's Ivan Perišić opens the scoring but is later sent off in the 79th minute
- Spain complete the comeback in Split in a Nations League Group A clash
Croatia 1-2 Spain
Goals: Perišić (17') for Croatia; Merino (61', 88') for Spain.
Croatia took the lead in Split but Spain came from behind in the second half, with Mikel Merino scoring twice to decide the Nations League Group A match. Ivan Perišić opened the scoring and was later sent off in the closing stages.
The match
Croatia started well and went ahead in the 17th minute: Ivan Perišić put the hosts in front to make it 1-0. Before the goal, Slaven Bilić had already been booked twice in quick succession, receiving yellow cards in the 14th and 15th minutes. Perišić himself was cautioned in the 22nd minute.
Spain made a change at half-time, with Alejandro Baena Rodríguez replacing Mikel Merino. The substitution paid off: Merino, who had come on, equalised in the 61st minute to make it 1-1.
Croatia reacted with a double change around the hour mark: Igor Matanovic came on for Dion Drena Beljo, and Luka Modrić — booked in the 65th minute — replaced Petar Sučić. Spain's Rodrigo Hernandez Cascante was also cautioned, in the 66th minute, before being substituted in the 71st minute along with Fermín López, with Martín Zubimendi and Daniel Olmo Carvajal coming on. Croatia made another change at the same time, sending on Nikola Vlašić for Martin Baturina.
Spain introduced Lamine Yamal in the 78th minute, replacing Víctor Muñoz. Moments later, in the 79th minute, Croatia were reduced to ten men: Ivan Perišić was sent off.
Spain made their final substitutions late on, bringing on Pedri for Yeremy Pino in the 87th minute, while Croatia replaced Mario Pašalić with Mateo Kovačić in the 88th minute. In the same minute, Mikel Merino completed his brace, finishing off an assist from Martín Zubimendi to make it 1-2. Víctor Muñoz was booked for Spain in second-half stoppage time, closing out the scoring sequence.
The numbers
Statistics not available for this match.
Table and next fixtures
League table not available. No upcoming fixtures currently scheduled.