Home Soccer-Major League Soccer Spain narrowly tops Netherlands for first semis in historical past – Equalizer Soccer

Spain narrowly tops Netherlands for first semis in historical past – Equalizer Soccer

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Spain narrowly tops Netherlands for first semis in historical past – Equalizer Soccer

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Photograph: Richard Callis / SPP

It got here right down to the wire, however Spain goes to the semifinals of the 2023 FIFA Girls’s World Cup. They may face the winner of Sweden and Japan, who play on Friday at 3:30 a.m. ET.

Spain 2, Netherlands 1 (aet)

The Large Story: Spain booked a spot within the World Cup semifinals for the primary time when 19-year-old Salma Paralluelo scored on a solo effort within the second additional time interval to get rid of the Netherlands. The winner got here moments after Lineth Beerensteyn misfired on a golden alternative on the different finish. It was a minimum of the third time Beerensteyn entered the Spanish field with an opportunity to attain, however got here up empty. After the third likelihood, the following aim kick was received in midfield by Jenni Hermosso who turned and beat two Dutch defenders with the outlet ball to Paralluelo, who did the remainder of the work.

Spain solid forward within the 81st minute when Mariona Caldentey narrowly transformed a penalty that kissed the left publish earlier than heading in. However the Netherlands didn’t go quietly. Stefanie Van Der Gragt, whose arm was simply inside the realm when it touched the ball to offer Spain the penalty, cheated ahead and scored an equalizer early in stoppage time, sending the sport into additional time.

The Large Second: After Spain dominated a lot of the opening half and early a part of the second, the Netherlands acquired in behind on the hour. Beerensteyn shed her mark working onto a beautiful supply and was taken down from behind by Aniek Nouwen’s restoration run. After an preliminary penalty name, a VAR evaluation overturned the decision, denying the Netherlands an opportunity to take the lead from the spot. A lot occurred after this second, however it will have modified your entire scope of the match had they been capable of play from the lead at any juncture.

What it means: After asserting themselves to the world by solely narrowly dropping to eventual champions the US within the Spherical of 16 4 years in the past, Spain enter the ultimate 4 of the World Cup for the primary time the place they are going to face both Sweden or rematch Japan, who defeated them in group play, 4-0. It means they are going to play the utmost seven matches and have positioned themselves on the verge of being a world energy within the girls’s sport.

As for the Netherlands, the quarterfinal exit was their second in as many summers having gone out on the identical stage on the EUROS in 2022. They performed this World Cup with out injured Vivianne Miedema and performed the quarterfinal with out Daniëlle van de Donk who was suspended for yellow card accumulation. They nearly did sufficient to let van de Donk — who had not been outdoors a Netherlands beginning lineup in a decade — reside to see one other match however it was to not be. Add in a quiet event from Lieke Martens and it’s truthful to marvel if now we have seen the height of what has been a wonderful run for Dutch girls’s soccer.

Dan Lauletta





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