FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023: Spain through to semi-finals with 2-1 extra time win over Netherlands
Spain progress to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 semi finals for the first time after a dramatic 2-1 win over 2019 finalists Netherlands.
Football
Spain secured their place in the semi-finals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 with a 2-1 win over 2019 finalists Netherlands in Wellington on Friday (11 August).
It is the first time in the nation’s history that they have made the final four of a FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The game remained goalless until the 81st minute when Spain were awarded a penalty, and Mariona Caldentey stepped up to convert it.
It seemed as if the one goal would be enough to send Spain through to the semi-finals, until Stefanie van der Gragt found the back of the net in stoppage time to force the game to extra time.
The first half of extra time saw little action, and it wasn’t until the 111th minute that Spain’s Salma Paralluelo fired home the winner to send her nation into the tournament’s final four.
Spain will now face either Japan or Sweden in a bid to make their first ever FIFA Women’s World Cup final.
Despite dominating possession and racking up a total of 28 chances, it still took Spain until the second half of extra time to secure their fate.
As 19-year-old Salma Paralluelo, who was substituted on in the 70th minute, unleashed the strike that would fire Spain through to their first ever Women’s World Cup semi-finals, she etched her name in history.
Spain had dominated throughout the 110 minutes prior to Paralluelo’s goal, but as USWNT and Nigeria’s respective Round of 16 fixtures showed us - it isn’t always the dominant team that comes out on top.
This time however, it was.
And even when Stefanie van der Gragt gave Netherlands a lifeline in the first minute of added time, Spain’s heads didn’t drop.
Instead they regrouped and headed into extra time with an air of confidence that this tie was still very much theirs to win.
It was a deserved victory for Spain, as Netherlands lacked the quality and composure to match that of La Roja.
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - AUGUST 11: Mariona Caldentey of Spain celebrates after scoring her team's first goal during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Quarter Final match between Spain and Netherlands at Wellington Regional Stadium on August 11, 2023 in Wellington / Te Whanganui-a-Tara, New Zealand. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
What is next for Spain and the Netherlands?
For the Netherlands, their tournament now comes to an end.
They have failed to match their record from 2019 when they made the final against champions USWNT, but have instead matched their performance at last year’s European Championships where they got as far as the quarter finals.
Spain now move on to compete in their first ever Women’s World Cup semi-finals.
They will face the winner of Japan v Sweden in Auckland on Tuesday (15 August) at 10:00 CET / 20:00 local.
Should they emerge victorious, they will progress to the FIFA Women’s World Cup final and find themselves up against either England, Colombia, Australia or France.
The FIFA Women’s World Cup final will be played at Stadium Australia in Sydney on Sunday 20 August at 12:00 CET / 20:00 local.