Olga Carmona’s 89th minute strike fired Spain past Sweden with a 2-1 win to reach their first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup Final.
Carmona pounced upon Teresa Abelleira’s short corner kick to fire in the winning goal via the underside of the crossbar.
Salma Paralluelo had earlier come on from the bench and punished Jonna Andersson’s sloppy deflected clearance with a clinical opening strike in the 81st minute.
Sweden’s Lina Hurtig and Rebecka Blomqvist combined in the 88th minute with an equaliser which had looked destined to send the game to extra time, as Hurtig knocked down a header which Blomqvist fired in to restore parity briefly.
Spain will now meet the winner of Australia’s semi-final against England in the Final at Stadium Australia, Sydney, Australia, on Sunday 20 August, at 11am UK Time.
Sweden meanwhile head to Lang Park, Brisbane, for the Third-Place Play-Off on Saturday 19 August at 9am UK Time, where they will face the loser of Australia’s tie against England.
Despite reaching only their second major semi-final and first at a Women’s World Cup, Spain settled quickly with their high-press attack but struggled to break down Sweden’s resolute defence, which frustrated them in the opening 10 minutes.
Alba Redondo however almost broke the deadlock as she met a 11th minute cross but her header at the right post was blocked, as was her rebound shot after the ball trickled back towards her.
Olga Carmona saw two shots denied as Spain continued to dominate the opening half whilst Aitana Bonmati whipped in a 21st minute curled shot, in hope that Jennifer Hermoso could flick it beyond Zecira Musovic who made a comfortable save.
Spain continued to pile on the pressure and Alexia Putellas punced upon a 34th minute free-kick, but Magdalena Eriksson made a crucial deflection to keep the score goalless.
Sweden’s best chance fell in the 42nd minute as Fridolina Rolfo met Nathalie Bjorn’s cross, only for the Barcelona striker to lack power upon her shot, which Catalina Coll Lluch blocked near the bottom left corner.
Rolfo’s chance ultimately sparked Sweden into life despite the first half finishing goalless, as the 2003 runners-up showed more intensity after half time with Stina Blackstenius and Rolfo both denied by Coll Lluch.
Spain however regained control of the match just after the hour mark with their best chance of the second half falling to Redondo, as she met Hermoso’s 70th minute cross but fired wide initially before she flicked Paralluelo’s pullback pass wide of the near left-corner.
Paralluelo eventually opened the scoring for Spain in the 81st minute after Andersson deflected Hermoso’s cross into her path, which the 19 year-old Barcelona forward flicked into the right corner beyond Musovic’s reach.
Sweden however equalised seven minutes later through the combination of two substitutes as Lina Hurtig knocked a header down for Blomqvist to rifle in beyond Coll Lluch’s reach into the far right corner.
Spain however snatched a dramatic 89th minute winner as Teresa Abelleira played a short corner towards Carmona, who calmy struck her shot into the top right corner, albeit with a lucky inward deflection from the crossbar.
Jorge Vilda’s Spaniards ultimately held out to clinch their first ever Women’s World Cup Final appearance, which in-turn condemned Sweden to their fourth defeat in five semi-final appearances at the Women’s World Cup.
Teams
Spain: Catalina Coll Lluch, Ona Batlle, Irene Paredes, Laia Codina, Olga Carmona, Aitana Bonmati, Teresa Abelleira, Alexia Putellas (Paralluelo 57′), Alba Redondo (Navarro 73′), Jennifer Hermoso, Mariona Caldentey Oliver (Gonzalez 90+5′)
Substitutes: Misa Rodriguez, Ivana Andres, Irene Guerrero, Esther Gonzalez, Enith Salon, Eva Navarro, Maria Perez, Salma Paralluelo, Rocio Galvez, Claudia Zornoza, Athenea del Castillo
Sweden: Zecira Musovic, Nathalie Bjorn, Amanda Ilestedt, Magdalena Eriksson, Jonna Andersson, Elin Rubensson (Hurtig 87′), Filippa Angeldahl, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (Schough 77′), Kosovare Asllani, Fridolina Rolfo, Stina Blackstenius (Blomqvist 77′)
Substitutes: Jennifer Falk, Tove Enbolm, Linda Sembrant, Stina Lennartsson, Anna Sandberg, Madelen Janogy, Lina Hurtig, Sofia Jakobsson, Rebecka Blomqvist, Caroline Seger, Hanna Bennison, Olivia Schough
Referee: Edina Alves Batista (Brazil)
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