Spain does not wake up from its dream

MADRID, 11 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Spanish women's soccer team continues to make history in the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand and qualified this Friday for the semifinals after defeating the Netherlands, the current runner-up, 2-1 in a match that had to be decided in a tense extra time where he scored a great goal from Salma Paralluelo.

The young Aragonese forward, an athlete not long ago, appeared when she was most needed and the rival threatened the most. In one of the few transitions that the Dutch team conceded, the FC Barcelona player found the space that she had been denied until then, she drove firmly, opened up to her left foot and crossed it unstoppably to unleash the euphoria.

Spain does not wake up from its World Cup dream. Jorge Vilda's team had a hard time ending the resistance of the 2017 European champion, subdued in the first 45 minutes in a great version of the national team led by Jenni Hermoso and Mariona Caldentey, but who found extra time in a mistake in the added and when the Spanish women caressed the bill and from there it became a greater threat.

The coach practically maintained his confidence in the eleven of the round of 16 and only introduced the novelty of Mariona Caldentey for Salma Paralluelo, starter in the previous four clashes. The Spaniard responded with her talent and together with Jenni Hermoso they disarmed the midfield of the Netherlands, which suffered a lot in the first 45 minutes of Spanish dominance without prize.

Despite the importance of the event, Spain quickly established itself on the uneven grass of the Sky Stadium where the two quarterfinalists did not disappoint and pressed from the start. But the 'Red' clung to its quality and despite having a somewhat intermittent Aitana Bonmatí, enjoyed the best chances right from the start with a clear shot from Esther González, tireless until she went to the bench, which she could not define against Van Domselaar after a bad control that made him lose the advantage after a great wall with Jenni Hermoso.

The current runner-up in the world, with Damaris Egurrola starting and with Jill Roord and Lieke Martens neutralized, failed to get the pulse of the clash and allied herself with the sticks, which twice, one after a good hand from the Dutch goalkeeper, denied her the goal to Alba Redondo in the same play. Two shots, from Esther González and Mariona Caldentey, closed the first good stretch of the national team, also firm in defense to barely struggle, except for a cross shot from Brugts.

The Netherlands bet more on direct play, largely to take away the good pressure from Spain, whose final stretch of the first half was optimal, with a goal disallowed by Esther González who pushed a shot slightly forward with everything in favor of Alba Redondo and after a great maneuver and a great cross from Ona ​​Batlle, who gave a great level in both areas. The Andalusian forward gave another warning before a break with little loot for what was offered by Jorge Vilda's team.

And after passing through the changing rooms, the script did not change too much, but the current runner-up in the world was less overwhelmed despite Spain's good start, with a sharp shot from Esther González that went just wide and continuous arrivals in the rival area, although with certain lack of skill to have taken more advantage.

But the Netherlands held on and little by little took advantage of the spaces that the Spanish team occasionally left in their attacks. And so the scare came in the form of a penalty, finally annulled by Stephanie Frappart after consulting the VAR, but which opened a period of doubt in the Spanish, looking for a change with the entry of Salma Paralluelo.

And the panorama opened when the decisive minutes were faced with an innocent hand from Van der Gragt. The VAR notified the referee and the penalty was transformed, with suspense, by Mariona Caldentey. But with the score in their favour, the 'Red' was a bundle of nerves and conceded more than they had done up to then. Van der Gragt, already off the hook as a forward, corrected her mistake in the addition and sent the game to extra time.

In extra time, Spain, which sought solutions with the entries of Olga Carmona, Alexia Putellas and Eva Navarro, was the one that suffered. Ivana Andrés made a magisterial cut and Beerensteyn had two very clear ones to have sentenced. The Dutch failed and immediately after her Jenni Hermoso crowned her great match finding Salma Paralluelo's stride to extend her dream. On Tuesday, Japan or Sweden keep the key to the final.

DATASHEET.

--RESULT: SPAIN, 2 - NETHERLANDS, 1 (0-0, at halftime, 1-1 at the end of regulation time).

--LINE-UPS.

SPAIN: Cata Coll; Oihane Hernández (Olga Carmona, min.91), Irene Paredes, Laia Codina (Ivana Andrés, min.77), Ona Batlle; Aitana Bonmatí (Irene Guerrero, min.87), Tere Abelleira, Jenni Hermoso; Alba Redondo (Salma Paralluelo, min.71), Esther González (Eva Navarro, min.99) and Mariona Caldentey (Alexia Putellas, min.99).

PAÍSES BAJOS: Van Domselaar; Spitse (Snoeijs, min.85), Van der Gragt (Casparij, min.106), Janssen; Roord (Wilms, min.61), Egurrola (Dijkstra, min.96), Groenen, Pelova, Brugts (Nouwen, min.89); Martens and Beerenstein.

--GOALS.

1-0, minute 81. Mariona Caldentey, penalty.

1-1, minute 90 1. Van der Gragt.

2-1, minute 111. Salma Paralluelo.

--REFEREE: Stephanie Frappart (FRA). She admonished Oihane Hernández (min.35), for Spain, and Damaris Egurrola (min.61), for the Netherlands.

--STADIUM: Welllington's Sky Stadium. 32,021 spectators.