{ "id": "7702", "author": "23", "title": "FIFA Women's World Cup: Spain, Sweden Book Semifinal Spots After Tense Wins (Roundup)", "lang": "en", "series": "1", "cup_year": "0000", "article_type": "general", "excerpt": "FIFA Women: Spain reached the FIFA Women's World Cup semifinals for the first time after edging the Netherlands 2-1 in a thriller on Friday, while third-ranked Sweden outlasted former champions Japan with a tense 2-1 win. ", "subtype": null, "editor1": "

FIFA Women:<\/strong> Spain reached the FIFA Women's World Cup semifinals for the first time after edging the Netherlands 2-1 in a thriller on Friday, while third-ranked Sweden outlasted former champions Japan with a tense 2-1 win.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Sixth-ranked Spain will next face Sweden in a mouth-watering final four clash on Tuesday in Auckland. Japan's elimination means a first-time World Cup champion will be crowned at the tournament.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Playing in their first quarterfinal, Spain showed no signs of nerves and overcame ninth-ranked Netherlands with teenager Salma Paralluelo scoring an extra-time winner in Wellington, a Xinhua report said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"It's a great day for Spanish women's football. We've reached somewhere we've never reached before, and done it playing a good game as well, with a team that is convinced that we can go even further," Spain coach Jorge Vilda said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"The goal from Salma, it was sheer joy. We had to wait for a few minutes to get the result of the whistle in the end, and I'm extremely happy," he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

In a see-saw of a contest, Paralluelo produced a brilliant solo goal in the 111th minute to down the Netherlands and the result also signalled the end of defender Stefanie van der Gragt's career.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

The 30-year-old endured an emotionally draining swansong having conceded an 81st minute penalty for a handball with Spain's Mariona Caldentey breaking the deadlock.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

But van der Gragt equalized in the dying minutes to force extra time before the Netherlands ultimately fell short.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"We had the chance in extra time and we didn't score, they had one chance and they scored. That's football," said van der Gragt, who was part of Netherlands' runner-up finish in 2019.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"I have to be proud of myself and the team."<\/p>\r\n\r\n

In the later game, Sweden reached their fifth World Cup semifinal after surviving a late onslaught from 2011 champions Japan in Auckland.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

After goals to Amanda Ilestedt and Filippa Angeldal either side of the interval, Japan appeared headed for a tame exit and they couldn't peg a goal back with Riko Ueki missing a penalty in the 76th minute.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

But Japan's hopes were revived when substitute Honoka Hayashi scored from close range in the 87th minute. Japan aggressively pushed for an equalizer, but missed several opportunities as a nervous Sweden hung on. Sweden celebrated with gusto, but they were made to work hard after having a stranglehold.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Both teams had conceded just one goal from their first four games and a defensive style ensued in the early exchanges.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Sweden drew first blood in the 32nd minute when Ilestedt scored her fourth goal of the tournament -- one behind Japan's Hinata Miyazawa in the overall tally.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Japan lacked potency and did not have a goal on target in the first-half. They were in a hole when Angeldahl converted a penalty in the 51st minute before clawing back into the contest.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

But Sweden defied Japan's final surge to reach another semi-final.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Also Read: <\/strong> Major League Cricket 2023 Schedule, Teams And Squads<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n

The remaining quarterfinals will be played on Saturday when co-host Australia face France in Brisbane, while England battle Colombia in Sydney.<\/p>\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2023\/08\/fifa-womens-world-cup-spain-sweden-book-semifinal-spots-after-tense-wins-roundup-1691820615.webp", "alt_img": "FIFA Women's World Cup: Spain, Sweden book semifinal spots after tense wins (Roundup)", "alt_title": "FIFA Women's World Cup: Spain, Sweden book semifinal spots after tense wins (Roundup)", "image1": null, "video": null, "seo_title": "FIFA Women's World Cup: Spain, Sweden Book Semifinal Spots After Tense Wins (Roundup) On Cricketnmore", "seo_desc": "FIFA Women: Spain reached the FIFA Women's World Cup semifinals for the first time after edging the Netherlands 2-1 in, FIFA Women's World Cup: Spain, Sweden Book Semifinal Spots After Tense Wins (Roundup).", "seo_keywords": "FIFA Women, World Cup, Salma Paralluelo, Jorge Vilda, Mariona Caldentey, Amanda Ilestedt, Filippa Angeldal, Riko Ueki, But Japan, Honoka Hayashi, Hinata Miyazawa, But Sweden", "tag": null, "tagging": "", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "1", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": null, "slug": "fifa-womens-world-cup-spain-sweden-book-semifinal-spots-after-tense-wins-roundup", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "1", "ians_date": null, "ians_time": null, "server_time": null, "trash": "0", "view_count": "935", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "1", "auto_link": "0", "created": "2023-08-12 11:40:15", "updated": "2023-08-12 11:40:26", "img_from": "Image Source: IANS", "img_source": null, "schedule_publish": null, "news_keywords": "FIFA Women, World Cup, Salma Paralluelo, Jorge Vilda, Mariona Caldentey, Amanda Ilestedt, Filippa Angeldal, Riko Ueki, But Japan, Honoka Hayashi, Hinata Miyazawa, But Sweden", "livescore_text": null, "livescore_link": null, "btn_text": null, "resend_feed": "0", "google_feed": "0", "read_more": "0", "posted_by": "12", "jio_date": "2023-08-12 11:40:15", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "0", "breaking_news": "1", "google_date": null, "featured": "0", "sports_name": "football", "cnmid": "775453", "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/sports-news\/fifa-womens-world-cup-spain-sweden-book-semifinal-spots-after-tense-wins-roundup-7702" }