España logró su primer boleto a la final de un mundial femenino / Carmona fires Spain into Women’s World Cup final with 2-1 win over Sweden

Auckland.- Perseverancia, osadía y habilidad definen la actuación de una España que escribió este martes un capítulo más de la historia del fútbol. Nuevamente con un gol de Salma Paralluelo y otro tanto de Olga Carmona, las españolas se impusieron a Suecia y disputarán por primera vez una final de un Mundial femenino.

En un parejo y tenso compromiso que se guardó lo mejor para el final, los tres goles -dos para España y uno para Suecia- salieron en los últimos diez minutos del encuentro.

El resultado supone un doble triunfo para las españolas: además del inédito pasaporte a la final, batieron por primera vez al conjunto nórdico.

Con un once de gala, el clima entre el equipo era de tranquilidad y desenvoltura, con las españolas luciendo sonrisas e intercambiando abrazos durante el calentamiento.

Para hacer frente a la fortaleza física del combinado escandinavo, Jorge Vilda priorizó el ataque y apostó sus fichas en el poderío del centro ofensivo de Tere Abelleira, Aitana Bonmatí y Alexia Putellas y el trío Mariona Caldentey, Alba Redondo y Jenni Hermoso en la cabecera.

Suecia, como se esperaba, empezó muy física y con un marcaje muy intenso, mientras que España buscaba el juego con su estilo veloz y priorizando el balón.

España, determinada, no se dejó abatir, mostró a qué vino y, tras un córner de Tere Abelleira, Olga anotó el segundo tanto español y firmó el triunfo -y pase inédito- de La Roja para la última instancia mundialista, que se disputará el próximo domingo en Sidney, ante la ganadora de la otra semifinal, entre Inglaterra y Australia.

EFE

Carmona fires Spain into Women’s World Cup final with 2-1 win over Sweden

Late strike by Olga Carmona puts Spain into the Women’s World Cup final for the first time.

Olga Carmona struck late to lift Spain to a thrilling 2-1 win over Sweden and send the Iberians into their first Women’s World Cup final.

Carmona’s 90th-minute strike from long range pinged off the crossbar and into the goal two minutes after Rebecka Blomqvist had levelled the match for Sweden in front of a baying crowd of 43,217 at Eden Park on Tuesday.

Salma Paralluelo, the quarterfinal hero against the Netherlands, put Spain in the lead with the opening goal in the 81st minute, breathing life into what had been a slow-burning, cagey affair.

Less than a year after a player revolt tore the squad apart, La Roja will have the chance to lift the trophy on Sunday when they face co-hosts Australia or England in the final.

The losers of the second semifinal on Wednesday will face Sweden in the match for third place on Saturday.

Sweden thus bowed out after yet another defeat at the penultimate hurdle, having made the semifinals in France four years ago and also the last four at last year’s European Championship.

In a match-up of Iberian attacking flair and Swedish defensive resilience on Tuesday, Spain were the livelier side early but had little to show for their possession and vigour.

Full-back Carmona blazed just wide with a low, long-range effort in the 14th minute and midfield dynamo Aitana Bonmati thrashed a wild shot by the same right post from the edge of the area.

Sweden barely wavered in defence, though, and finished the half-ascendant with a typical salvo of set-piece pressure.

A few minutes from the break, Spain were dealt a fright as Nathalie Bjorn chested the ball down and crossed to an unmarked Fridolina Rolfo in the area. But the Sweden winger’s volley was well covered by keeper Cata Coll.

Sweden kept up the heat and Jorge Vilda went to his bench early, replacing Alexia Putellas with Paralluelo, who had scored the winner against the Dutch in the quarterfinal.

Paralluelo almost helped break the deadlock in the 70th minute when she kept the ball alive with a cut-back pass to Alba Redondo in close.

Slumped on the turf, Redondo swung a leg out but could only put her shot into the side netting.

Eleven minutes later Paralluelo pounced again on a poor clearance, slamming the ball into the right corner to send Spanish fans into delirium.

It appeared all over for Sweden as regulation time dwindled but Lina Hurtig headed down to an unmarked Blomqvist, who thrashed the ball in.

But Carmona broke the deadlock in a late twist, her fierce strike tipped onto the underside of the bar by keeper Zecira Musovic before bouncing down over the line, ensuring Spain create more history at their breakout World Cup.

More from the original source: https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2023/8/15/carmona-fires-spain-into-womens-world-cup-final-with-win-over-sweden