In the final match in New Zealand, the scene in Auckland was cold and wet, with rain falling down on what was going to be a tight game between Spain and Sweden.
And tight it was, as it came down to the last minutes of regulation in the second half for Spain to break through, coming away with a 2-1 victory for their first FIFA Women's World Cup Finals appearance in their country's history.
There was the feeling or notion that the game would be decided on a set piece, but the twist here is that it was Spain, not Sweden, scoring on the set piece to decide the game when Teresa Abelleira, on a corner, decided on a long pass to Olga Carmona rather than kicking straight to the wall in the box.
Carmona, who wore the captain's armband, was at the left edge of the penalty area, taking just one touch to herself before volleying a shot off the crossbar and in with just a minute left before stoppage time.
The goal came two minutes after Rebecka Blomqvist scored to tie the match, with the ball entering the penalty area on a cross set up for Lina Hurtig, though Hurtig, instead of head-balling it into the net, deferred to the open Blomqvist, who immediately fired the ball to the top right corner.
It was the first ever match where the first goal was scored at the 80th minute or later and finish with three goals scored.
Teenage phenom Salma Paralluelo, who won Spain their quarterfinals match against the Netherlands, opened the scoring at the 81st minute. Jenni Hermoso set the play up, as she centered the ball to the box, though a pass initially intended for Eva Navarro bounced off Jonna Andersson, and Paralluelo fired the ball between the legs of Elin Rubensson and right to the bottom corner.
Paralluelo, 19, is the first teenager in 20 years to score in a semifinal, with Canada's Kara Lang being the only other player to accomplish this feat, scoring at ag. 16.
A lot of her touches have been in or around the Swedish penalty area, showing her flashy dynamic that she brings to La Roja.
There were questions on how Spain would finish this game, given that there were times that the Netherlands, who had no business sending the quarterfinals match to extra time, almost stole the game from La Roja.
In a matchup that was slow and defensive to start off that later turned into a barrage of chances for Spain, La Roja proved to be the more dynamic team.
The chances were there for Spain early on. Carmona fired a low, long-range shot at the 14th minute after a pass from Hermoso that sailed just inches to the right of the right goalpost.
The miss came three minutes after Spain was knocking right on the doorstep, though Alba Redondo missed on two crosses as two Swedish defenders got in the way of her cross in the box.
Then, in the 22nd minute, Aitana Bonmatí faked out Rubensson before lacing a cross for a great opportunity for Hermoso. Rubensson later stole the ball away from Hermoso two minutes after that, racing right in to deny Spain's no. 10 from a scoring opportunity.
Fridolina Rolfö looked to put Sweden ahead with less than 3:30 remaining in the first half after Carmona's pass was blocked by Nathalie Björn, and Björn immediately found Rolfö at the left side of the danger zone, and Catalina Coll answered the call with a diving save right.
12 minutes into the second half, Paralluelo came in for Spain, replacing Alexia Putellas, who is still recovering from a torn ACL last summer, and has yet to play 90 minutes in any match in this tournament.
The substitution came after a very promising start from Sweden in the half, having controlled the ball most of the time in the half's first 10 minutes, indicating their proactive approach after the halftime break.
They got early chances at the half, pressing the Spanish. Stina Blackstenius had a chance for them, but ran out of room to get a good shot off and Coll made an easy save.
Paralluelo's insertion for Spain has shifted their shape. She plays as a true striker while Hermoso, who began the match as the central forward, dropped to the midfield as an extra attacker. While Paralluelo saved a ball for Spain that allowed Redondo a chance, Redondo was so close to finding the back of the net. Though the sequence at the 71st minute showed that Hermoso's off-ball movement has shone with Paralluelo on.
Spain was mere inches away from the opening goal by then, but so was Sweden five minutes later. Johanna Rytting Kaneryd's cross was just inches over the head of Blackstenius.
La Roja held the ball for 63% of the time, though that number went as high at 70% in the first half. The stout Swedish defense was denying the Spanish any spacing in the first half, and their style is typical for teams who find success in the knockout rounds: They are a well-rounded unit that can defend the 18-yard box, and are one of the best in the air. They have shown no fear throughout their run, especially in their wins over the United States and Japan.
Their calling card has been the set pieces, and they showed how dangerous they can be from there throughout the tournament, both on offense and defense. Amanda Ilestedt, their leading scorer, had four goals throughout the tournament, which is impressive given that she typically plays the centre-back position.
But they ended up getting beat at their own game with one minute to spare before stoppage time in the second half.
The joy they felt when Blomqvist tied the game turned into gut-wrenching agony, as they have come across an all-too familiar ending, playing for bronze medals. They will be playing in their second straight third place match, but this is also their fourth in the last six World Cups.
This same Swedish team has reached the semifinals eight times in the last 10 Euros, and they have still yet to win a title there. They also won the silver medal in the last two Olympics.
Though the Spanish don't have the same reputation on the set pieces as the Swedish do, La Roja is just as confident in these same situations as the Blue and Yellow are.
"We practice a series of corners," said Spain head coach Jorge Vilda via interpreter. "Direct corners, short corners, and one of the strategies is to give the ball to a player where Carmona was. But to shoot the ball the way she did, that's her talent."
There has been a lot of talk about what this year's World Cup means for co-hosts Australia, with that team paving the way for the future generations of women to come, but the same can be said of Spain as well.
In just their third Women's World Cup appearance, Spain has some of the most talented players in the world, with two-time Balloon d'Or winner Putellas, Bonmatí, and rising star Paralluelo.
Everyone showed their determination in bouncing back with a well-executed game-winner. They were the better team throughout the match, dominating possession, and creating 13 chances to Sweden's five.
There was a cloud of doubt surrounding the team from the player mutiny last October, with 15 players writing to the Royal Spanish Football Federation, along with their 4-0 defeat to Japan in the final game of the group stage, leading to questions if they were able to win against a team as strong as Sweden both tactically and physically.
Sweden focuses more on a defensively sound game, but the old saying comes and goes, "Sometimes the best defense is a good offense."
This was the case with Spain, who has a style-based pace, showing that they can not only control the game against the more imposing teams, but they can withstand challenges they face against equal or better opponents, like what was shown with the Netherlands and Sweden, and now they can showcase it once more against either England or Australia.
Cata Coll, despite appearing in just three matches on the international level, has shown her bravery throughout the knockout stage, while Carmona and Ona Batlle play with their poise in driving the flanks where they play at. Putellas and Paralluelo can help decide the outcome of the final with their heroics.
Putellas is not at her best at this current moment, as she was starting on the bench in the first two matches of the knockout stage, as she was in the quarterfinals win over the Netherlands so that they get the best chance of winning.
The dilemma now comes with Paralluelo. The 19-year-old has scored clutch goals for Spain in the quarterfinals and semifinals after coming in as a second half substitute. Her pace makes her a threatening attacking forward coming off the bench, but it seems the time has come for her to be on the starting eleven. That decision will come down to Vilda ahead of the finals.
Though from here, it's only up for Spain. They have a lot of good options, and their belief matches how their results have shown with how talented they are. And whoever comes out between England and Australia, they will have to face the tallest task of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.
The two rivals will face off against each other in the semifinals at 6:00 AM EDT on August 16th. FOX has the U.S. telecast, TSN the Canadian telecast, and Televisa the Mexican telecast, with Telemundo providing the Spanish-speaking telecast in the U.S.
Scoring
Spain, 81': Salma Paralluelo [2], right footed shot from center of the box to bottom right corner. 1-0 Spain
Sweden, 88': Rebecka Blomqvist [3], right footed shot from center of the box to top right corner, assisted by Lina Hurtig [1] with a headed pass. 1-1 Tie
Spain, 89': Olga Carmona [1], left footed shot from left side of the box to high center of the goal, assisted by Teresa Abelleira [1] following a corner. 2-1 Spain
Substitutions
Spain, 57': Salma Paralluelo replaces Alexia Putellas.
Spain, 73': Eva Navarro replaces Alba Redondo.
Sweden, 77': Rebecka Blomqvist replaces Stina Blackstenius.
Sweden, 77': Olivia Schough replaces Johanna Rytting Kaneryd.
Sweden, 87': Lina Hurtig replaces Elin Rubensson.
Spain, 90'+5': Esther González replaces Mariona Caldentey.
Disciplinary
None
Team Stats
Possession: Spain 63% advantage
Shots: Spain 13, Sweden 6
On Target: Spain 2, Sweden 3
Fouls: Spain 6, Sweden 13
Yellow Cards: Spain 0, Sweden 0
Red Cards: Spain 0, Sweden 0
Offsides: Spain 1, Sweden 3
Corner Kicks: Spain 3, Sweden 3
Saves: Spain 2, Sweden 0
Miscellaneous
Venue: Eden Park
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Attendance: 43,217 (Capacity: 50,000)
Referee: Edina Alves Batista (Brazil)
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