\n
Spain\u2019s players celebrate after beating Sweden 2-1 to reach the final of the Women\u2019s World Cup<\/strong><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Olga Carmona struck late to lift Spain to a thrilling 2-1 semifinal win over Sweden yesterday and sent them into a first Women\u2019s World Cup final.<\/p>\n
Wearing the captain\u2019s armband, Carmona\u2019s 90th-minute strike from the edge of the area pinged off the crossbar and into the net two minutes after Rebecka Blomqvist had levelled the match for Sweden in front of a baying crowd of 43,217 at Eden Park.<\/p>\n
Teenager Salma Paralluelo, Spain\u2019s quarterfinal hero against the Netherlands, produced magic off the bench again, putting her side in front in the 81st minute and breathing life into what had been a slow-burning, cagey affair.<\/p>\n
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 decider.<\/p>\n
Peter Gerhardsson\u2019s Sweden bow out after another defeat at the penultimate hurdle, having made the semifinals in France four years ago and at last year\u2019s European Championship.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt felt like a punch in the stomach when they managed to take the lead again straight away. There are no words,\u201d Sweden defender Magdalena Eriksson told Swedish radio.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m incredibly disappointed, we gave everything we had, we even managed to equalise. We fought against a headwind today, we didn\u2019t succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spain netted late on to snatch a place in Sunday\u2019s Women\u2019s World Cup final.<\/p>\n
Fifteen Spain players had threatened to quit last year if Coach Jorge Vilda was not moved on, but on Tuesday his decision to replace playmaker Alexia Putellas with Paralluelo before the hour mark proved decisive.<\/p>\n
In a match-up of Iberian attacking flair and Swedish defensive resilience, Spain were the livelier side early on but had nothing to show for it.<\/p>\n
Full back Carmona blazed just wide with a low, long-range effort in the 14th minute and midfield dynamo, Aitana Bonmat\u00ed, thrashed a wild shot past the same right post from the edge of the area.<\/p>\n
However, Sweden finished the half ascendant with a typical salvo of set-piece pressure.<\/p>\n
A few minutes from the break, Spain dealt with a fright as Nathalie Bj\u00f6rn chested the ball down and crossed to an unmarked Fridolina Rolf\u00f6 in the area.<\/p>\n
But the Sweden winger\u2019s volley was well covered by goalkeeper, Cata Coll.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\t<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Spain\u2019s players celebrate after beating Sweden 2-1 to reach the final of the Women\u2019s World Cup \u00a0 Olga Carmona struck late to lift Spain to a thrilling 2-1 semifinal win over Sweden yesterday and sent them into a first Women\u2019s World Cup final. Wearing the captain\u2019s armband, Carmona\u2019s 90th-minute strike from the edge of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":92206,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-92205","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"\n
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