Spain has qualified for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Final thanks to a late goal by Olga Carmona! Despite a cagey 80-minute period, Spain took the lead with nine minutes remaining. Jenni Hermoso’s cross was deflected by Jonna Andersson, and Salma Paralluelo swept the ball in. Despite cries for it to be disallowed, the goal stood following a VAR review.
Spain 2-1 Sweden: Olga Carmona guides La Roja to Women’s World Cup Final
Carmona’s long-range shot in the 90th minute bounced off the crossbar and into the goal. It was only two minutes after Sweden’s Rebecka Blomqvist levelled the game in front of a raucous crowd.
Salma Paralluelo, Spain’s quarter-final hero against the Netherlands, opened the scoring in the 81st minute. It was like bringing fire to what had been a slow-burning, cagey game.
Despite Paralluelo’s burst of speed, it took La Rojas until the 80th minute to register their first shot on goal. Prior to this, Alba Redondo was the only Spanish player to come close to scoring. However, it was super-sub Parralluelo who broke the deadlock with a superb first-time strike, giving Spain the lead with their first attempt on goal.
Navarro was about to meet a stunning Caldentey cross. However, Andersson uses her body to beat her to it. She botches her clearance, though, and only makes it to Paralluelo. She twists and slides the ball low past Musovic. VAR was called in to determine whether Caldentey’s offside had thrown off the custodian, but it ruled in favour of La Roja.
