Olga Carmona fires Spain into Women’s World Cup final with win over Sweden

AUCKLAND–Olga Carmona struck late to raise Spain to an exhilarating 2-1 semi-final win over Sweden on Tuesday and ship the Iberians into a primary Ladies’s World Cup decider because the match left New Zealand with a flurry of objectives.

Carrying the captain’s armband, Carmona’s Ninetieth-minute strike from the sting of the world pinged off the crossbar and into the online two minutes after Rebecka Blomqvist had levelled the match for Sweden in entrance of a baying crowd of 43,217 at Eden Park.

Teenager Salma Paralluelo, Spain’s quarter-final hero towards the Netherlands, produced magic off the bench once more, placing her aspect in entrance within the 81st minute and respiration life into what had been a slow-burning, cagey affair.

Lower than a yr after a participant revolt tore the squad aside, ‘La Roja’ may have the prospect to raise the trophy on Sunday once they face co-hosts Australia or England within the decider.

Peter Gerhardsson’s Sweden bows out after one other defeat on the penultimate hurdle, having made the semi-finals in France 4 years in the past and ultimately yr’s European Championship.

“It felt like a punch within the abdomen once they managed to take the lead once more right away. There aren’t any phrases,” Sweden defender Magdalena Eriksson informed Swedish radio.

“I’m extremely disillusioned, we gave every little thing we had, we even managed to equalize. We fought towards a headwind at the moment, we didn’t succeed.”

Fifteen Spain gamers had threatened to stop final yr if coach Jorge Vilda was not moved on, however on Tuesday his resolution to interchange playmaker Alexia Putellas with Paralluelo earlier than the hour mark proved decisive.

JOY TO DESPAIR

In a match-up of Iberian attacking aptitude and Swedish defensive resilience, Spain was the livelier aspect early on however had nothing to point out for it.

Full again Carmona blazed simply vast with a low, long-range effort within the 14th minute and midfield dynamo Aitana Bonmati thrashed a wild shot previous the identical proper submit from the sting of the world.

Nevertheless, Sweden completed the half ascendant with a typical salvo of set-piece strain.

A couple of minutes from the break, Spain was dealt a fright as Nathalie Bjorn chested the ball down and crossed to an unmarked Fridolina Rolfo within the space.

However the Sweden winger’s volley was nicely coated by keeper Cata Coll.

Sweden stored up the warmth after the break however Paralluelo, named participant of the match, wrested again the momentum for the Spaniards.

She got here near breaking the impasse within the seventieth minute when she stored the ball alive with a cut-back move to Alba Redondo in shut. Slumped on the turf, Redondo swung a leg out however might solely put her shot into the aspect netting.

Eleven minutes later Paralluelo pounced once more on a poor clearance, thumping residence into the best nook to ship Spanish followers into delirium.

It appeared throughout for Sweden as regulation time dwindled however Lina Hurtig headed all the way down to an unmarked Blomqvist, who volleyed residence from shut vary.

The Swedes’ pleasure shortly turned to despair when Carmona’s fierce strike was tipped onto the underside of the bar by keeper Zecira Musovic earlier than bouncing down over the road, guaranteeing Spain create extra historical past at their breakout World Cup.

“I feel everybody simply feels unhappiness and large disappointment,” Sweden boss Gerhardsson informed reporters.

“We felt this huge pleasure and elation that possibly we will deliver this to additional time. Then it turned once more.”

Host nation New Zealand bid a fond farewell to the match, having generated a complete attendance of greater than 700,000 folks in 29 matches throughout 4 cities.

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