Spain did what Spain so often do: they made the clock their weapon, and when Portugal thought they had survived, Mikel Merino arrived in stoppage time to finish them off. One goal, in the 91st minute, from a substitute who had been on the pitch for barely a quarter of an hour. That is all it took to send the defending European champions into the World Cup quarter-finals and end Portugal's tournament in Dallas.
For 90 minutes this was a game that refused to break open. Spain had the ball, as they almost always do (55 per cent here), and built patiently from deep, while Portugal sat in their shape and looked for moments on the counter. Roberto Martinez's side generated chances, 10 shots to Spain's 15, but Diogo Costa kept making saves when it mattered, five in total. The xG figures told the real story of the afternoon: Portugal managed 0.58 against Spain's 1.77. Luis de la Fuente's side were the better team across every meaningful measure.
Rodri was the engine of it, as he so often is at this level. He screened, recycled, and occasionally drove forward when space opened, giving Spain a platform that allowed Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo to take up positions closer to Portugal's backline. Yamal, still operating with the kind of freedom that makes him such a difficult proposition, was persistently involved on the right and contributed to Spain's territorial dominance throughout. Pedri, alongside him in midfield, kept things moving cleanly before being withdrawn just past the 85th minute.
Portugal's most direct threat came down their left flank, where Nuno Mendes was sharp before being replaced before the hour. João Neves was tidy and competitive in the middle, and João Félix and João Cancelo worked together in the right channel until both were substituted in the 71st minute. When Bruno Fernandes drifted into space, Portugal looked more dangerous, but he never quite found the final pass that would have unlocked Unai Simón.
Cristiano Ronaldo, playing the full match, had little to feed on. Portugal's 0.58 xG tells you how few genuine opportunities were constructed around him. He was not entirely absent, but was largely kept at arm's length by a Spain defensive unit that has conceded almost nothing during this tournament.
Spain's own attacking line had its moments. Alex Baena was lively throughout before being withdrawn in the 75th minute, and Mikel Oyarzabal worked in the channels without a great deal of luck, coming off a minute from time. The deadlock looked set to hold. Then came Ferran Torres, on as a substitute with 15 minutes remaining, and Merino, introduced moments before the end.
It was Torres who made the opening, delivering the assist that led directly to the goal. And it was Merino who applied the finish, a header that gave Costa no chance in the 91st minute. After so much patient construction, Spain had broken the door down at the very last moment.
Portugal will reflect on a performance that was disciplined and resolute but ultimately not quite enough against a side this well-organised and this clinical. They kept their shape, limited Spain's clear openings, and had the better of certain spells in the second half. But they could not convert their few chances, and in the end, that frugality in attack cost them.
Spain progress. They were better across the game, and the winning goal, for all its lateness, was not against the run of play. They will face whoever emerges from the other quarter-final draw having conceded next to nothing, with Rodri pulling strings and a squad deep enough to change a match in the final minute. Portugal, and Ronaldo, are going home.