Spain 2-1 Sweden: Paralluelo & Olga net to send Spain into World Cup final

Olga Carmona puts La Roja into the World Cup final after dramatic finish with Rebecka Blomqvist cancelling out super sub Salma Paralluelo's opener - with Australia or England next for Spain.

2023 Women's World Cup

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Match Report

Spain will watch tomorrow's clash between hosts Australia and European champions England with interest after booking their place in the Women's World Cup final in a dramatic climax in their semi-final clash with Sweden.

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.

Salma Paralluelo, the quarter-final 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 championship match.

Spain had dominated proceedings in New Zealand, with 63 per cent of the ball and 13 shots on goal in the tie to Sweden's six.

But La Roja had struggled to make Swedish stopper Zesira Musovic work with just the two shots on target, both coming in the final 10 minutes of the game.

Spain will be playing in their first Women's World Cup and could become just the second nation to have won both the men's and women's honour, after Germany who won in both 2003 and 2007.

England will also be able to achieve the feat, should they find a way past Australia in Sydney on Wednesday.

For Sweden it is a familiar story, having now lost four of their five Women's World Cup semi-final appearances, losing in the final to Germany in 2003 after their only success.

The Scandinavian nation have finished third on each of their previous outings in the third-place play-off, beating England in the previous tournament.

What's next?

Spain will play Australia or England in Sunday's final in Sydney, with kick-off at 11am.

Sweden will face the losers of the other semi-final in the third-place play-off on Saturday in Brisbane, with kick-off at 9am.

What is the schedule?

The second semi-final between Australia and England takes place on August 16 at the Accor Stadium in Sydney, which will then host the final on August 20.

A third-place play-off will be played the day before the final on August 19 in Brisbane.

Line-ups

Spain XI: Alexia Putellas, Jenni Hermoso, Irene Paredes, Mariona Caldentey, Aitana Bonmati, Alba Redondo, Cata Coll, Ona Batlle Pascual, Olga Carmona, Teresa Abelleira, Laia Codina

Subs: Esther Gonzalez, Ivana Andrés, Claudia Zornoza, Irene Guerrero, Rocío Gálvez, Eva Maria, Enith Salón, Athenea Del Castillo, Misa Rodríguez, María Pérez, Salma Paralluelo

Sweden XI: K. Asllani, J. Andersson, E. Rubensson, A. Ilestedt, F. Rolfö, M. Ericsson, S. Blackstenius, Z. Musovic, N. Björn, F. Angeldal, J. Rytting-Kaneryd

Subs: L. Sembrant, C. Seger, S. Jakobsson, O. Schough, Lina Hurtig, J. Falk, M. Janogy, T. Enblom, R. Blomqvist, H. Bennison, Anna Linnea Sandberg, Hanna Lundkvist