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Spain after drama in the World Cup final
19-year-olds and long-distance shock Sweden very late
08/15/2023, 11:55 am
In the first semi-final of the women’s World Cup, Spain narrowly beat Sweden in a game that ended in drama. 19-year-old Salma Paralluelo scores with ten minutes remaining but Sweden responds promptly. A long-range shot gives the Spaniards their first World Cup final.
Spain’s footballers reach for their first World Cup title at the finals in Australia and New Zealand. After a turbulent final phase in the semi-finals, Furia Roja defeated frightened favorites Sweden 2-1 (0-0) and will now face the winner of the duel between co-hosts Australia and European champions England on Wednesday (12 May) in the final on Sunday (12 p.m. CEST). Clock CEST/ARD and in the ntv.de live ticker).
Edeljoker Salma Paralluelo (81st), only 19 years old, and Olga Carmona (89th) scored for the team of national coach Jorge Vilda, who had been under massive pressure after a rebellion by 15 players in the autumn. Wolfsburg’s Rebecka Blomqvist (88th) equalized for the Olympic bronze medalist Sweden, who missed his second World Cup final after losing the 2003 final.
43,217 fans at Auckland’s Eden Park saw the Spaniards take the lead. With world footballer Alexia Putellas back in the starting XI, Furia Roja, who was sure of the ball, set the first accents courageously, but lacked the necessary penetrating power. A long-range shot from Carmona (14th) just missed the post.
Late drama makes Spain cheer
In a tactically shaped encounter, the ex-European champions Sweden, who had already knocked out the USA and Japan, tried to use energetic pressing and switching moments. Former Bundesliga player Fridolina Rolfö (42′) had the best opportunity just before the break, but Spain goalkeeper Cata Coll parried the volley.
After the break, the Scandinavians noticeably increased the pressure and attacked the Spanish build-up earlier. Spain coach Vilda took the hapless Putellas off the field after less than an hour and brought on Joker Paralluelo.
The whirling match winner of the quarterfinals against the Netherlands (2:1 aet) immediately presented the Swedish defense with problems. A little later, Alba Redondo (71 ‘) had the 1-0 on his foot when she missed the goal by a hair’s breadth from a sitting position – Paralluelo then did better from around eight meters.
But then events took a turn for the worse. Substitute Blomqvist made Sweden celebrate, after a corner Carmona responded with a shot from 16 meters.