Mikel Merino celebrates scoring for Spain against the NetherlandsImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Mikel Merino wheels away after scoring Spain's stoppage-time equaliser

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 hosts a narrow lead to take into the second leg, but after Hato was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Mikel Oyarzabal 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.

Player of the match

Number: 14 Dean Huijsen
Average rating 8.94
Number: 1 B. Verbruggen
Average Rating: 8.04
Number: 4 V. van Dijk
Average Rating: 7.80
Number: 12 J. Frimpong
Average Rating: 7.71
Number: 11 C. Gakpo
Average Rating: 7.65
Number: 20 M. Wieffer
Average Rating: 7.19
Number: 6 J. van Hecke
Average Rating: 7.05
Number: 19 J. Kluivert
Average Rating: 6.90
Number: 15 M. de Ligt
Average Rating: 6.67
Number: 21 F. de Jong
Average Rating: 6.40
Number: 8 T. Koopmeiners
Average Rating: 6.13
Number: 14 T. Reijnders
Average Rating: 6.11
Number: 10 M. Depay
Average Rating: 5.88
Number: 5 J. Hato
Average Rating: 5.61
Number: 7 X. Simons
Average Rating: 5.60
Number: 2 L. Geertruida
Average Rating: 5.35

After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.

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