Spain condemned Uruguay to an early exit from the World Cup with a hard-fought win shaped by a first-half mistake from veteran goalkeeper Fernando Muslera. With the group finely poised, Alex Baena broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute, driving a firm effort from the edge of the area that Muslera failed to gather cleanly. The ball slipped from his grasp and trickled over the line, a moment that ultimately defined the match and Uruguay’s campaign. The incident unfolded as both Manuel Ugarte and Lamine Yamal were down injured, but the referee allowed play to continue. Baena kept his composure, and Spain capitalised on the lapse to take control before halftime. It proved a costly error for Muslera, who was replaced at the interval. Uruguay pushed to recover after the break, but Spain’s structure and game management limited clear chances. La Roja were not at their sparkling best, yet they competed with maturity, cycling possession when needed and pressing aggressively to break up Uruguay’s rhythm. The South American side battled with urgency knowing their tournament hopes were on the line, but their final ball deserted them at key moments. The result leaves Spain top of their group on seven points from two wins and a draw, underlining their consistency across the three matches. Newcomers Cape Verde clinched the second knockout berth after drawing all three of their games, a remarkable achievement in their debut campaign. Uruguay exited with two points, level with bottom-placed Saudi Arabia, reflecting a tournament in which they were organised and combative but ultimately lacked cutting edge in front of goal. “It might be one of the goals that has made me happiest,” Baena told local TV after the match. “We knew it was going to be a tough match. They were fighting for their lives, and we were fighting for the top spot. We didn’t show our best form, but we competed very well.” His words echoed a performance defined by resilience and clarity in key moments. For Spain, the path ahead will demand sharper attacking fluency, but topping the group offers momentum and confidence. Uruguay, meanwhile, will rue fine margins: a split-second handling error and a night when their intensity could not be translated into goals.