Salma Paralluelo scored in extra time to give Spain a 2-1 win over the Netherlands on Friday. This was the first time Spain had made it to the semifinals of the Women’s World Cup.
The sixth-ranked La Roja, who had never made it past the round of 16 in their previous two World Cups, will play either Japan or Sweden next Tuesday in Auckland for a spot in the final of the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
In the 81st minute, when Dutch defender Stefanie Van der Gragt touched the ball inside the box, Spain’s Mariona Caldentey scored with a penalty kick.
In her last World Cup game, Van der Gragt got some payback when she tied the game in the 91st minute, sending the game into extra time in front of 32,021 people at Wellington Regional Stadium.
In the second period of extra time, Barcelona’s Paralluelo ran onto a through ball, dribbled past her defender at the top of the penalty area, and smashed a left-footed shot past Daphne van Domselaar for her first World Cup goal and a historic win for Spain.