Spain will play the World Cup final

MADRID, 15 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Spanish women's soccer team made history this Tuesday by qualifying for the World Cup final in Australia and New Zealand after beating Sweden 2-1 in a very close semifinal and which was decided in their favor in a hectic final stretch, with a goal in the 89th minute by Olga Carmona.

Spain took out the ticket for Sydney next Sunday, a milestone for a team that carried out a very competitive match against a very experienced rival and that had hit them hard when they were already touching the final with their fingers. But, when it seemed that she would be forced into another extra time, she found the loophole to knock down a rival who put up the expected resistance and slip into the fight for World Cup glory against the winner of Australia-England.

There were ten minutes of maximum tension, those that passed between Salma Paralluelo's goal, once again decisive, and Olga Carmona's decisive one, just after Rebecka Blomqvist had repeated the story of the quarterfinals. This time an extra half hour was not needed and Spanish women's football broke down a barrier that it had been trying to pull down for a long time and supported by a wonderful generation of players.

To face this semifinal, Jorge Vilda gave another twist to Spain's approach and this time he chose to bring in more associative players with the entry of Alexia Putellas and the substitution of Esther González, starter against Switzerland and the Netherlands, to play with Jenni Hermoso for reference above.

Sweden, as planned, settled well on the field and focused its plan on trying to make the Spanish midfielders uncomfortable at all times, leaving Madrid's striker more room for maneuver, somewhat isolated up top and unable to capture her quality as a player. in the quarterfinals.

Despite Swedish pressure, Spain gradually gained control of the match, with defensive firmness to avoid scares and set pieces from their rival. However, it was difficult for her to create truly dangerous chances, with a dropped header from Alba Redondo that did not find a shooter and a shot from outside the area by Olga Carmona.

The national team became more and more established as the minutes went by and found where they could do the most damage to Per Gerhardsson's team, unable to create a sense of danger, but who was finally the one who enjoyed the best chance of these first 45 minutes, born of poor delivery by Olga Carmona and a cross to the far post where Fridolina Rolfö won the game against Ona Batlle. Cata Coll demonstrated her reflexes to deflect the Blaugrana's shot.

Sweden took advantage of this scare to end up overwhelming before the break, after which Vilda decided not to make any changes, especially to improve the bite up top. But it was her rival who came out the best and who took control of the match, tighter in her pressure and being direct in her football, with more prominence from Asllani.

The coach tried to react quickly with the entry of Salma Paralluelo for an Alexia Putellas who, deprived of the ball, suffered more in this second half, and delayed Jenni Hermoso. The change took effect and the clash was balanced a little more, with Spain now looking to take more advantage of the spaces.

The 'Red' improved with the modifications, balanced the clash and once again brought danger towards Musovic's goal, especially with one from Alba Redondo, who missed with her shot from the ground a few meters from the goal. Then Mariona Caldentey did not equalize well with her shot in the center of the area, but the goal was around more frequently and ended up falling.

Salma Paralluelo, whose entry had fueled the attack, showed that her right leg is also of quality and with it she 'hunted' a loose ball to make it 1-0. It was the 81st minute and Spain had to hold on like in the quarterfinals, but they failed, with a Sweden that went for everything and Blomqvist did not forgive in a second play to equalize in the 88th minute.

Fate, however, still had a letter reserved for the Spanish team. Olga Carmona received too much free on the edge of the area after a corner kick with the Swedish defense more pending to defend the cross into the area. The Andalusian, with smoothness and precision, executed a blow that surpassed Musovic to unleash the euphoria and allow Spain to fight for what they have been fighting for so long.

DATASHEET.

--RESULT: SPAIN, 2 - SWEDEN, 1 (0-0, at halftime).

--LINE-UPS.

SPAIN: Cata Coll; Ona Batlle, Irene Paredes, Laia Codina, Olga Carmona; Aitana Bonmatí, Tere Abelleira, Alexia Putellas (Salma Paralluelo, min.57); Alba Redondo (Eva Navarro, min.73), Jenni Hermoso and Mariona Caldentey (Esther González, min.95).

SUECIA: Musovic, Bjorn, Eriksson, Ilestedt, Andersson; Asllani, Angeldal, Rolfö, Kaneryd (Schougt, min.77), Rubensson (Hurtig, min.86); y Blackstenius (Blomqvist, min.77).

--GOALS.

1-0, minute 81. Salma Paralluelo.

1-1, minute 88. Blomqvist.

2-1, minute 89. Olga Carmona.

--REFEREE: Edina Alves Batista (BRA).

--STADIUM: Eden Park in Auckland (New Zealand).