- Dramatic Victory: Spain Clinches World Cup Final Spot with Late Goal
- Intense Match: Spain Triumphs Over Sweden in Explosive Finish
- Spain’s Resilience: Overcoming Strife and Adversity to Reach the Final
The 89th-minute goal by captain Olga Carmona sparked chaotic scenes of jubilation among their fans at Eden Park, Auckland.
Rebecka Blomqvist had tied the game 93 seconds earlier, and it appeared that extra time would be required. Sweden, who have now lost back-to-back World Cup semi-finals, had equalized through Blomqvist.
With only 10 minutes remaining, 19-year-old substitute Salma Paralluelo gave Spain the lead in a contest with few opportunities.
On Sunday, they will face either England or Australia in the final in Sydney.
After 80 minutes of staleness, the conclusion is explosive.
While Spain’s players celebrated wildly on the field after the game, Sweden’s players dropped to the ground as their World Cup hopes were dashed.
During the first eighty minutes, there were few indications of what was to follow.
Two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas, whose playing time has been limited as she returns from a severe knee injury, was recalled by Spain coach Jorge Vilda.
When she nutmegged Manchester City’s Filippa Angeldahl, Putellas received the loudest ovation of the first half from the sold-out 43,217-person crowd.
Fridolina Rolfo of Sweden saved Cata Coll’s third goal in the tournament in the 42nd minute.
Spain dominated possession, but Sweden’s defense, which has been solid and resolute over the past month, frustrated their opponents for extended stretches, while the Swedes once again employed a tried-and-true tactic in an attempt to break through.
Coll, who had not begun a senior game for Spain before the World Cup, performed admirably against Sweden’s inswinging corners, which had wreaked havoc in previous matches and accounted for seven of their eleven goals at the tournament before the semi-final.
Then followed an explosive conclusion.
Parallels, who won the quarterfinal against the Netherlands, kept her cool to put Spain ahead before Blomqvist’s equaliser.
With extra time approaching, Carmona advanced Spain with a shot that hit the crossbar after a corner kick.
Spain recovers from team strife
Before this tournament, Spain had only won one of their previous seven Women’s World Cup matches. After their fifth and most dramatic victory in New Zealand, they are now headed to the final.
This historic victory for Spain came just 15 days after their 4-0 group-stage loss to Japan.
After that loss, Vilda stated that “no one should lose hope,” and his team responded by eliminating Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Sweden.
After 15 players threatened to leave the team because they were dissatisfied with Vilda’s methods, and the coach initially expelled them from the squad, Spain entered this tournament under a cloud.
Three of the 15 players, Mariona Caldentey, Aitana Bonmati, and former Manchester United defender Ona Batlle, were included in his World Cup squad.
Spain appeared to have reconciled as all three players helped La Roja reach the final on a great night.
I believe Spain will win.
Sweden succumbed for the fourth time in five World Cup semi-finals, having eliminated the 2015 and 2019 champions, the United States and Japan, in their previous two matches.
Their players have been brutal and successful in this tournament, but they seemed crushed after going close to OT.
“There are so many emotions right now,” said the manager, Peter Gerhardsson. Everyone feels only sorrow and immense disappointment.
On Saturday at 9:00 BST, Sweden will travel to Brisbane for the third-place match.
We will be extremely, extremely prepared for that game,” Gerhardsson added, hoping Spain wins the World Cup.
Caroline Seger, Sweden’s longtime captain, will conclude her five-tournament international tenure without a World Cup winner’s medal.
Due to a calf injury, Seger has been limited to just 69 minutes of action at this World Cup.
