Netherlands 2-2 Spain: Mikel Merino equaliser earns La Roja late draw

Arsenal’s Mikel Merino scored a stoppage-time equaliser to earn Spain a draw against the Netherlands in their Nations League quarter-final first leg.

Second-half substitute Merino converted from close range after Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen had parried Nico Williams’ low shot into his path.

Williams had earlier given Luis de la Fuente’s European champions a first-half lead with a smart finish after Dutch full-back Jorrel Hato had lost possession deep inside his own half.

The Netherlands responded well and equalised before the hour mark when Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo powered home a low shot from Bournemouth attacker Justin Kluivert’s pass.

Tijjani Reijnders low shot 39 seconds into the second period appeared to have earned the visitors a narrow lead to take into the second leg, but after Hato was dismissed with nine minutes remaining, Merino struck to salvage a draw for the holders.

Merino’s late goal stretches Spain’s unbeaten run in all competitions to 17 matches – since a 1-0 friendly defeat by Colombia in March last year.

Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen, who was born in the Netherlands but lived in Spain between the ages of five and 16, was handed his senior La Roja debut late in the first half after an injury to Barcelona’s Pau Cubarsi.

The second leg takes place in Valencia on Sunday, with the winners of the tie facing either Croatia or France in the semi-finals.