Carmona’s late goal sends Spain to Women’s World Cup final
AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — Spain will play for its first Women’s World Cup championship after Olga Carmona’s aim within the 89th minute lifted La Roja to a 2-1 victory over Sweden within the Tuesday semifinal.
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Spain, which overcame final yr’s close to mutiny by its gamers towards coach Jorge Vilda, will play the winner of event co-host Australia and England on Sunday within the closing in Sydney.
The controversy surrounding Spain dates to final September, when 15 gamers signed a letter complaining about Vilda and the circumstances for the the nationwide group. Three of these gamers are on this World Cup group, and Vilda a day earlier than the sport towards Sweden praised the Spanish federation for its assist.
Now, La Roja has an opportunity to change into a first-time World Cup champion.
“This is a historic day,” mentioned Vilda. “We’re in the final, that’s what we wanted.”
He once more thanked the federation and its management for the assist that has Spain one win away from the World Cup.
“The end result is a learning process which has made us all stronger in my opinion, and to leave it archived in the past and think about the future,” Vilda mentioned by way of a translator. “And to think that we’re here because we deserve it.”
Carmona’s aim capped a flurry of late scoring that noticed Sweden tie the sport, then Spain win it 90 seconds afterward the shock rating.
Salma Paralluelo, the 19-year-old super-sub who additionally scored the game-winner in Spain’s 2-1 extra-time quarterfinals victory over the Netherlands, scored within the 81st minute to place Spain up 1-0. She gestured for the group to cheer, and the group thought it was celebrating Spain’s decider.
But the celebration was temporary. Rebecka Blomqvist tied it for Sweden within the 88th.
Then, simply 90 seconds later, Carmona beat Sweden goalkeeper Zecira Musovic with the game-winner.
“It was really, really really crazy,” Spanish defender Irene Paredes mentioned. “After scoring the first one it was like, `OK, this is the end, we have to keep this score.’ But they scored quite fast and I was like, `What the hell happened?’ But we had confidence that we could create something else.”
Sweden has now misplaced in 4 of 5 semifinals and can attempt to end third for a fourth time.
“I have to watch the game, I really do, before I can make any assessments,” mentioned Sweden coach Peter Gerhardsson. “Right now I am full of emotions. It is is the third loss in the semifinals. I think everyone just feels sadness and huge disappointment.”
Paralluelo grew to become simply the second teenager to attain in a Women’s World Cup semifinal after Kara Lang of Canada in 2003, additionally towards Sweden
“It was a magic moment. It is something very unique when I scored the first goal. To be able to repeat is really incredible,” Paraluello mentioned.
Spain is enjoying in solely its third World Cup. Four years in the past, La Roja superior to the knockout spherical however misplaced to eventual champions the United States.
“Now it’s the final. I think we have to do what we’ve done in every match,” mentioned Paralluelo. “We’ve overcome every challenge and now we face the ultimate challenge, the big one”
The Swedes have by no means gained a World Cup. They had been the 2003 runner-up and have completed third thrice. Sweden gained silver medals on the Tokyo Olympics two years in the past, and on the 2016 Games in Brazil.
“I’m tired of crying big tournament tears,” mentioned Kosovare Asllani. Sweden additionally misplaced within the semifinals of the Euros final September.
The Swedes swept their opponents within the group stage earlier than knocking out two-time reigning champion the United States on a penalty shootout after a scoreless draw.
Sweden then bought by beforehand unbeaten Japan 2-1 within the quarterfinals.
Spain fell to second in its group after a blowout loss to Japan, however rallied to beat Switzerland 5-1 and the Netherlands 2-1 to achieve the semifinals. It was La Roja’s first look in a significant semifinal because the 1997 European Championships.
Spain’s two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas made her third begin of the World Cup. Putellas ruptured her ACL final summer time and has been working her method again to full health. She got here off the bench within the group’s final two matches.
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Putellas, who changed Esther Gonzalez within the beginning 11, was subbed off within the 57th minute for teenage Paralluelo, who has now scored in two straight video games.
Spain dominated possession and had the higher possibilities within the first half. Carmona’s blast from the highest of the field was a low shot went simply vast. Sweden’s protection, which had allowed simply two targets within the event, held.
Putellas nutmegged Filippa Angeldal earlier than delivering a cross within the thirty fifth minute however Magdalena Eriksson was there to clear it away.
Spain goalkeeper Cata Coll dove to avoid wasting Fridolina Rolfo’s shot late within the half, then punched the ball away on a nook kick to maintain the sport scoreless on the half.
Sweden had vitality to start out the second half however Spain nonetheless had possibilities. Paralleulo’s header within the 63rd minute sailed over the aim.
Alba Redondo was on the bottom in entrance of the aim however bought a foot on the ball and appeared to attain within the 71st minute, however she was simply vast and the ball was caught up within the facet netting.
There had been just a few tense moments when Paralluelo’s aim was checked by video assessment, but it surely was awarded.
After Carmona’s aim, Spain’s gamers piled on prime of her close to their bench.
There had been 43,217 followers available for the match at Auckland’s Eden Park.
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