Spain secured their first-ever semifinal appearance in a Women’s World Cup after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Netherlands, with the winning goal coming in extra time.
Salma Paralluelo netted the decisive goal in the 111th minute, capitalizing on a counterattack initiated by Jennifer Hermoso just as the Dutch team seemed to be gaining control of the match.
The match saw Mariona Caldentey break the deadlock with an 81st-minute penalty, following a handball by Stefanie van der Gragt on the edge of the box. Van der Gragt later made amends by equalizing with a powerful shot from outside the area in injury time.
This triumph marks a historic achievement for Spain, which had never won an elimination game in previous World Cups. Conversely, the Dutch team once again faced the disappointment of falling short of the World Cup title, a year after their defeat to the United States in the 2019 final.
Spain’s next challenge will be facing Sweden in the semifinals. Sweden secured their spot by defeating Japan 2-1 in a separate match, with goals from Amanda Ilestedt (32) and a penalty by Filippa Angeldahl (51) in Auckland.
The victory over Japan ended a surprising winning streak for the Japanese team, which had won four consecutive matches, including a resounding 4-0 victory over Spain.
Both Spain and Sweden have displayed strong control of the ball, generating scoring opportunities throughout their matches. However, Spain will be without defender Oihane Hernández in the semifinal match due to suspension after receiving her second yellow card of the tournament.
The encounter between Spain and the Netherlands unfolded at Wellington Regional Stadium, drawing a crowd of over 30,000, including FIFA President Gianni Infantino and New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins.
The Spanish team showcased their ball-control style of play, creating numerous goal-scoring chances. In contrast, the Dutch team focused on containment and counterattacks, primarily led by their swift forward, Lineth Beerensteyn.
As the match progressed, the Dutch tightened their defensive marking, especially in the second half, to thwart the Spanish attacks that dominated the first half.
With the score against them, the Oranje pushed forward to find an equalizer, eventually succeeding in stoppage time with Van der Gragt’s brilliant strike.
Reflecting on the intense match, Spanish coach Jorge Vilda expressed his admiration for his team’s resilience, particularly in the face of adversity. He praised Salma Paralluelo’s decisive goal, which clinched the victory.
Although the Dutch coach, Andries Jonker, acknowledged Spain’s excellence as an opponent, he admitted to envisioning a Spain-Netherlands final. Despite this, his team found themselves in the “wrong bracket,” leading to their elimination.