Olga Carmona's sensational late winner sent Spain to the World Cup final with a 2-1 victory over Sweden.
Despite being a tight game with little scoring opportunities, three goals were scored in the last 10 minutes of regular time.
Salma Paralluelo, a 19-year-old winger for Barcelona, gave Spain the lead in the 81st minute, but Rebecka Blomqvist equalized in quick fashion.
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19-Year-old Salma Paralluelo subs on and gives Spain the late lead. | Credit: B/R Football. | Source: Twitter[/caption]
Paralluelo was subbed on and scored extra time winner in Quarterfinals and did same thing in semifinals after being subbed on.
Later on the game, Carmona answered back strongly a minute later, setting up a showdown with either Australia or England on Sunday.
Despite Sweden's best efforts, Spain couldn't capitalize on an early opportunity when Alba Redondo's header from a corner was cleared off the line.
They had another nice chance a few minutes later when they worked the ball well around the box and Carmona took a shot from the edge of the area, but it sailed harmlessly over the crossbar.
Later, Sweden attacked at the other end, but Johanna Rytting Kaneryd's header went high, and Aitana Bonmati's cross for Jennifer Hermoso was easily caught by goalkeeper Zecira Musovic.
Magdalena Eriksson did well to immediately head the ball away from Alexia Putellas' dangerous cross inside the area from a Spanish free kick.
Just before halftime, Sweden's best chance to take the lead came when Nathalie Bjorn found Fridolina Rolfo at the back post, but Cata Coll blocked Rolfo's half-volley.
Stina Blackstenius tried her luck early in the second half from the right side of the box, but Coll made an easy save before making a fantastic diving save on Rytting Kaneryd's cross.
Hermoso found Redondo inside the area of goal for Spain, and the opportunity was there for the taking, but Redondo's shot was scuffed.
Neither team had any serious chances to win the game until the final 10 minutes, when they scored three times in eight minutes to send it to overtime.
Salma Paralluelo, a substitute, scored the game-winning goal for Spain in the 81st minute after a clearance enabled her to get a touch on Hermoso's cross. Although, the goal was reviewed by VAR, the referee decides that the goal for Spain stands.
However, Sweden responded in the 88th minute when Lina Hurtig headed down a cross for Blomqvist to smash the ball first time across the goalkeeper and into the top corner, giving Sweden the lead for the first time in the game.
A minute later, Spain won it when a short corner was sent out by Teresa Abelleira to Olga Carmona on the edge of the area, and she blasted a shot from well outside the box over Musovic's head. Musovic failed to get a strong enough hand on the ball to keep it out.
A Historic Win for Spain Women
Sweden has never been victorious at the World Cup, but they have come close on multiple occasions, including finishing as runners-up in 2003 and third place a record three times. Sweden performed well at the last two Olympic Games, taking home silver in both 2016 in Brazil and two years ago in Tokyo.
Spain is participating in the World Cup for the third time. While La Roja made it to the final eight four years ago, they were eliminated by the eventual champions, the United States.
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Spain Women reaches their first-ever World Cup final. | Credit: B/R Football | Source: Twitter[/caption]
“Now it’s the final. I think we have to do what we’ve done in every match,”
said Paralluelo. “We’ve overcome every challenge and now we face the ultimate challenge, the big one”.
Spain women made history by winning Sweden in the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 semi-final today. It was the first time that Spain reached the final of the tournament, and they did it in a dramatic fashion.
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