Salma Paralluelo (1st R) of Spain shoots to score the winning goal during their quarterfinal match against the Netherlands at the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand on Aug. 11, 2023. (Photo by Cameron McIntosh/Xinhua)
After an exciting and dramatic game, Spain defeated the Netherlands 2-1, reaching the semifinals for the first at the Women's World Cup.
WELLINGTON, New Zealand, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Spain made a historic advancement to the semifinals of the Women's World Cup, securing a dramatic 2-1 victory over the Netherlands, thanks to a decisive goal in extra time on Friday.
Though the first half remained goalless, Spain dominated the proceedings. They consistently applied pressure with their intricate passing and exemplary ball control, amassing 49% possession and racking up eleven shots on goal.
The Netherlands, however, had a quiet half, failing to record even a single shot and managing just 34% of the possession.
Lineth Beerensteyn (R) of the Netherlands vies with Eva Navarro of Spain during their match. (Xinhua/Guo Lei)
A moment of tension arose in the 17th minute as the Netherlands were twice saved by the post. An initial strike by Alba Redondo was parried by the Dutch goalkeeper, only to ricochet off the post. Redondo's follow-up attempt once again met the same fate, with the woodwork coming to the rescue.
Spain's hopes of breaking the deadlock were dashed in the 37th minute. Esther Gonzalez managed to slot the ball home after a sublime pass, only to see her goal ruled out for offside.
The game's complexion changed in the 78th minute. A handball offense by Stefanie Van Der Gragt inside the box earned Spain a penalty. Mariona Caldentey made no mistake from the spot, pushing Spain into the lead.
Stefanie Van Der Gragt (R) of the Netherlands celebrates her goal during the match. (Xinhua/Guo Lei)
However, in a dramatic twist, the Netherlands clawed back in injury time with Stefanie Van Der Gragt netting the equalizer.
The tiebreaker came in the 111th minute of extra time. Young sensation, 19-year-old Salma Paralluelo, unleashed a fierce left-footed drive during a swift counter, making it 2-1 for Spain.
Spain managed to hold their nerve, keeping the Dutch at bay until the final whistle.
Spain now await the winner of the clash between Japan and Sweden in the semifinals. ■
