Spain hit extra-time winner to reach World Cup semi-finals for first time
Download the Sports Brief App for More Trending and Breaking News!
Teenager Salma Paralluelo scored an extra-time winner as Spain beat the Netherlands 2-1 to reach the Women's World Cupsemi-finals for the first time Friday and a clash with Japan or Sweden.
Over a tense 90 minutes in Wellington full of incident, Mariona Caldentey scored an 81st-minute penalty for Spain, only for Stefanie van der Gragt to equalise in added time.
With the quarter-final seemingly headed for penalties, the 19-year-old substitute Paralluelo produced a brilliant solo finish in the 111th minute to put Spain into the last four.
They will now face Sweden or Japan in Auckland on Tuesday while the tournament is over for the Dutch, beaten finalists four years ago.
Barcelonaforward Paralluelo, who had started every previous game at the tournament, said she was determined to make an impact when coach Jorge Vilda introduced her from the bench in the 71st minute.
Sweden won't back down against 'physical' Italy at Women's World Cup
Football«It means everything to me. It was a unique moment, great euphoria to have lived through it and I'm extremely happy,» the teenager said.
Vilda predicted the former sprinter will blossom into a global star, having only made her Spanish senior debut nine months ago — when she scored a hat-trick against Argentina.
She scored twice in last year's Under-20 Women's WorldCup final win over Japan, before going on to taste European Champions League glory two months ago with Barcelona.
«Salma is a player with enormous potential and she's not reached her best,» Vilda said.
«Right now she is excellent, but in the future it's going to be much, much more.»
Their maiden semi-final place was reward for a display of controlled attacking
Read on sportsbrief.com
