ROTTERDAM: Spain snatched a stoppage-time equaliser against 10-man Netherlands to secure a 2-2 draw that extended a two-year unbeaten run and gave the holders the advantage in their Nations League quarter-final tie.

Substitute Mikel Merino, a makeshift striker at club level for Arsenal, proved his ability in front of goal for his country too with a close-range finish three minutes into added time.

The Dutch had fought back after going behind in the ninth minute with goals from Cody Gakpo and Tijjani Reijnders but finished with 10 men after teenage defender Jorrel Hato was sent off eight minutes from time for a studs-up challenge.

Spain, who had not lost in their previous 21 competitive internationals, opened the scoring through Nico Williams after a fast start to the game.

An error from 19-year-old Hato was snatched upon by Spain’s 17-year-old Lamine Yamal, whose pass to Pedri in the box was slipped through to Williams who turned to fire it home.

The winners of the tie take on Croatia or France in the semi-final in June with Croatia 2-0 up from the first leg.

Ante Budimir and Ivan Perisic struck the decisive goals as the returns of Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele failed to fire the visitors’ attack.

Croatia also missed an early penalty when Andrej Kramaric’s spot-kick was saved by France goalkeeper Mike Maignan but the 2023 runners-up deserved a win that might easily have been achieved by a greater margin.

Coach Didier Deschamps said: “We lost the first leg, we’re going to make sure we win the second at home. Our first half was below what we were capable of. We will do everything to turn the situation around.

“We were punished in the first half. We were far too wasteful on a technical level and gave opportunities to the opponent.”

Rasmus Hojlund came off the bench to score the winner as Denmark beat Portugal 1-0 in their quarter-final first leg at the Parken stadium in Copenhagen.

Hojlund, who has struggled to score for Manchester United, struck in the 78th minute to help spare the blushes of Christian Eriksen, whose first-half penalty was saved.

Hojlund said: “It was fantastic, a great day. I played against my idol (Ronaldo) and scored and was the match-winner. It couldn’t have been written much better.”

The winners, in the semi-final, will meet either Italy or Germany whose first leg in the Stadio Meazza in Milan brought success for the visitors. Leon Goretzka heading the winning goal 14 minutes from time. The second leg is in Dortmund on Sunday.

Italy coach Luciano Spalletti said: “There were a couple of situations that we paid too heavy a price for over the course of the game.”

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