Overpowering Olga powers Spain into World Cup final

Spain’s Olga Carmona (right) celebrates with a teammate after scoring against Sweden at Eden Park in Auckland yesterday. Pic/Getty Images

Olga Carmona's stunning 89th-minute strike gave Spain a 2-1 win over Sweden on Tuesday to propel them into the Women's World Cup final for the first time in their history.

Spain's thrilling victory at Eden Park sets up a showdown in Sydney on Sunday with either Australia or England, who meet in the other semi-final on Wednesday.

Paralluelo puts Spain ahead

The last-four clash in Auckland seemed to be drifting towards extra time before suddenly bursting to life when substitute Salma Paralluelo put Spain ahead with nine minutes left.

Rebecka Blomqvist equalised for Sweden in the 88th minute only for full-back Carmona, Spain's captain, to score with a superb shot in off the underside of the crossbar from the edge of the box 60 seconds later. "We are so proud of everything we have done and for getting to the final because now we are one small step away from glory," said Paralluelo.

It has been a remarkable run for a nation who had never previously gone beyond the last 16 at a Women's World Cup, and for a team who had been in disarray in the months leading up to the tournament.

Fifteen Spanish players told their federation last September that they no longer wished to be considered for selection, mainly out of unhappiness with coach Jorge Vilda, and only three of them returned for this World Cup run.

While their dream of World Cup glory remains alive, Sweden are left with a familiar feeling after going so far at another major tournament before falling short.

This is the third time in four World Cups that they have reached the semi-finals, only to lose on each occasion. Peter Gerhardsson's side also lost in the last four at the European Championship last year, having been beaten in the final of the Tokyo Olympics on penalties against Canada in 2021.

‘Huge disappointment'

"Everyone just feels sadness and huge disappointment," said Gerhardsson, whose team had been so impressive in beating Japan 2-1 in the last eight.

"We were up against an excellent Spanish side and they were able to disrupt us a lot more than Japan did."

Vilda decided against handing a start to Paralluelo, after she came off the bench to score the winner in the quarter-final against The Netherlands.

Instead he recalled Alexia Putellas and the reigning Ballon d'Or winner started for the first time since Spain were walloped 4-0 by Japan in the group phase.

The plan was clearly to dominate possession and make a more physically imposing Sweden do the chasing. Spain had far more of the ball in the first half, but the closest they came to breaking the deadlock was from long range when Jennifer Hermoso laid the ball back to Carmona, whose shot whistled wide.

England bank on ability to win big moments ahead of Oz blockbuster

Captain Millie Bright says England thrive in big games and will not be intimidated by the Sydney crowd when they face Australia in their Women's World Cup semi-final on Wednesday. England have been in this position before, in 2015 and 2019, losing 2-1 on both occasions, with a third-place finish their best World Cup so far. But coach Sarina Wiegman led them to the European title last year on home soil and Bright said they were well prepared to handle another blockbuster game in front of an expected 75,000 partisan fans at Stadium Australia. "We are just super excited to play in front of a really intense full stadium. At these big tournaments, especially a semi-final, we thrive in these moments. We know as an England team there's always pressure and it's something we embrace and deal with," said Bright.

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