Salma Paralluelo‘s extra-time goal was enough to send Spain into their first Women’s World Cup semi-final in history.
Spain dominated the first half and should have gone ahead within minutes, but Esther Gonzalez failed to score after being set up by Jenni Hermoso. Daphne van Domselaar superbly pushed Alba Redondo’s header onto the post before hitting the woodwork again with the rebound, while Esther had a close-range strike ruled out for offside.
The Netherlands thought they had an opportunity to score from the penalty spot in the second half when Irene Paredes was adjudged to have shoved Lineth Beerensteyn. However, the decision was overturned following a VAR review, and it was a Spain penalty that made it 1-0. From Paralluelo’s delivery, handball was given against Stefanie van der Gragt, and Mariona Caldentey converted from 12 yards as the clock struck the 80th minute.
That appeared to be the end of the game, but there was one more twist in store for Van der Gragt, who broke into the box in stoppage time and finished like a center forward off Victoria Pelova’s through ball.
We went to extra time, and it was then that the hearts of the Dutch would be broken. After Beerensteyn had wasted two wonderful chances, Hermoso unleashed Paralluelo at the other end of the pitch, and Spain’s youngest-ever Women’s World Cup player became their tournament’s youngest scorer, sending La Roja into the last four for the first time.
Paralluelo has struggled to rediscover her rhythm at the World Cup after a stellar season with Barcelona, but she showed no fear when she scored the game-winning goal on Friday. She’s back in the history books.
However, the Netherlands could have, and probably should have, been up before Spain scored a 2-1 victory. Beerensteyn was a thorn in La Roja’s side throughout the evening, but her final product was subpar. She had multiple chances in the 90 minutes, but she also had two major opportunities in the extra half hour, and the outcome could have been very different if she had taken one of them.
While the Netherlands prepare to depart, Spain has advanced to the Women’s World Cup semi-finals, where they will meet either Japan or Sweden in the final four. In Friday’s second match, these two will square off.
