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Olga Carmona’s remarkable late goal secured Spain a thrilling 2-1 victory against Sweden on Tuesday, propelling them into the Women’s World Cup final for the very first time in their storied history.
Spain’s electrifying triumph at Eden Park has paved the way for an epic showdown in Sydney on Sunday, where they will face either Australia or England. The other semi-final clash between Australia and England is scheduled for Wednesday.
The Auckland semi-final initially appeared to be drifting toward extra time, but it suddenly ignited when substitute Salma Paralluelo netted a crucial goal for Spain, putting them in the lead with a mere nine minutes remaining.
In the 88th minute, Rebecka Blomqvist managed to equalize for Sweden. However, Spain’s captain and full-back, Carmona, stole the spotlight by unleashing a spectacular shot from the edge of the box, which found the back of the net off the underside of the crossbar.
This remarkable journey has been nothing short of extraordinary for a nation that had never advanced beyond the round of 16 in previous Women’s World Cup editions. The team’s resilience is even more impressive considering the turmoil they endured in the months leading up to the tournament.
Fifteen Spanish players conveyed their decision to the federation in September of the previous year, expressing their desire to withdraw from consideration for selection. This decision primarily stemmed from their dissatisfaction with coach Jorge Vilda. Consequently, only three of these players reentered the fold for the current World Cup campaign.
While the aspiration of World Cup triumph remains alive, Sweden finds themselves grappling with a familiar sentiment, having advanced significantly in another major tournament before falling short.
This marks the third instance within the last four World Cups in which they have reached the semi-finals, yet encountered defeat on each occasion.
In addition to their recent World Cup disappointments, Peter Gerhardsson’s team experienced a similar outcome in the European Championship last year. They also suffered defeat in the semi-finals, following their loss in the final of the Tokyo Olympics to Canada in 2021, decided by penalties.
Vilda opted not to grant a starting position to Paralluelo, despite her pivotal role off the bench, where she secured victory in the quarter-final against the Netherlands.
Instead, he reinstated Alexia Putellas, the reigning Ballon d’Or title holder, who took the field as a starter for the first occasion since Spain’s 4-0 defeat to Japan during the group stage.
The strategy was evidently to assert dominance in possession, forcing a physically imposing Sweden to play catch-up.
During the first half, Spain maintained a significant ball possession advantage. However, Putellas and Aitana Bonmati found themselves deprived of the time and space needed to exert a substantial influence on the game.
Their closest attempt at breaking the deadlock came from a distance, when Jennifer Hermoso fed the ball back to Carmona, whose wide shot whistled past the target.
While Sweden had showcased an impressive 2-1 victory over Japan in the quarter-finals, their performance here remained lackluster until a sudden surge just three minutes before halftime.
Nathalie Bjorn delivered a lofted cross from the right to the back post for Fridolina Rolfo, who was facing seven of her Barcelona club colleagues in the Spain starting lineup. However, her side-foot volley was expertly saved by Cata Coll.
Vilda’s strategy was evident: to deploy the speedy Paralluelo when the Swedish defense began to tire. This tactical shift occurred just before the hour mark.
Paralluelo stepped in for Putellas, who still hadn’t completed a full 90 minutes at this World Cup due to ongoing recovery from a serious knee injury.
With 20 minutes remaining, the substitute’s persistence nearly yielded an opening goal for Spain. She stretched to keep the ball in play following a cross from Hermoso, but Alba Redondo failed to capitalize on her cutback.
In a decisive moment, Paralluelo unleashed a low shot into the corner with nine minutes of regular time left, showcasing her killer instinct and giving Spain the lead.
Yet, Sweden remained resolute. In the 88th minute, two of their own substitutes combined to level the score. Lina Hurtig, who had just entered the field, directed a header down for Blomqvist to confidently strike home, raising the possibility of extra time once more.
However, Carmona, the left-back from Real Madrid, had different plans. She stylishly secured victory for Spain, sealing the match with her determined effort.
