Spain with 2-1 win has reached the semi-finals of the Women’s World Cup for the first time , this came against the Netherlands in extra time, with Sweden and Japan playing later Friday for the right to face them.
Barcelona teenager Salma Paralluelo hit the winner with a smart finish on the counterattack in the 111th minute in Wellington after a game full of incident had ended 1-1 in normal time
Spain, who have recovered from a 4-0 humbling to Japan in the group phase, dominated the first half and twice hit the woodwork in quick succession. They also had a goal ruled out for offside by VAR.
The 2019 runners-up the Netherlands got a foothold in the second half and thought they had a chance to take the lead when French referee Stephanie Frappart pointed to the spot for a foul on Lineth Beerensteyn in the box.
Frappert was advised by VAR to review and she ruled there wasn’t sufficient contact from Irene Paredes, her yellow card and the penalty rescinded.
Spain went ahead from the spot with nine minutes left of normal time through Mariona Caldentey after Paralluelo’s cross struck Stefanie van der Gragt’s flailing hand just inside the penalty box.
Defender Van der Gragt — playing for the last time before retirement — made amends in the first minute of stoppage time when she blasted past Cata Coll inside the far post for 1-1.
The Netherlands had the better of extra time, but second-half substitute Paralluelo was the hero for Spain as she went down the left, beat a Dutch defender and lashed the ball hard and low into the bottom corner.
“It’s hard now,” said Van der Gragt, whose last game in football was an eventful one.
“We had the chance in extra time and we didn’t score, they had one chance and they scored. That’s football.”