Spain edge out thrilling encounter with Netherlands, into semis

Spain edged out a thrilling encounter with Netherlands that sparked to life in the second half to set up a potential face up with Japan at the Wellington Regional Stadium.

Playing in their first-ever WWC quarter final, Spain showed no sign of nerves and dominated their opponents as captain Esther González struck her one-on-one effort with the onrushing Daphne van Domselaar wide of the mark in the fifth minute. With the threat of the game’s opening goal coming thick and fast, Spain were left cursing their luck shortly after the quarter-hour mark as van Domselaar redirected Alba Redondo’s header onto the woodwork before the Levante UD striker frustratingly fired the rebound against the post. With HT on the horizon, La Roja thought they had finally made their dominance pay dividends. However, VAR was on hand to come to the rescue of the Dutch, advising Stéphanie Frappart to inform everyone in attendance that González’s goal would not stand after the discovery that she had strayed into an offside position by the finest of margins during the build-up.

The Spanish dominance continued in the second half but they were almost made to pay for not making that count. Once again, referee Frappart was at the centre of attention after she was advised to consult her on-field monitor before announcing that her original decision to award a penalty for a foul on Lineth Beerensteyn would no longer result in a Dutch spot-kick. VAR’s involvement in potentially deciding the contest was seemingly the main course, as Spain finally benefited when Stefanie van der Gragt was deemed to have handled in the area. Recalled to the La Roja XI in favour of Salma Paralluelo, Mariona Caldentey made no mistake from 12 yards out, firing her penalty beyond van Domselaar in-off the post.

There was to be further drama in Wellington though as van der Gragt atoned for her mistake, sending the game to ET in sensational fashion by fiercely striking Victoria Pelova’s perfectly weighted pass into the corner beyond Cata Coll at the start of stoppage time. With neither nation able to find a decisive breakthrough in the first half of ET, it looked like penalties were on the horizon. That was until substitute Paralluelo struck in the 111th minute, as the Barcelona winger broke free of the Dutch defence to fire an exquisite strike into the far corner past van Domselaar.

Victory moves Spain one step closer to lifting their maiden WWC trophy, as La Roja will prepare for a flight to Auckland for their semi-final clash on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the 2019 finalists Netherlands will head home disappointed after finally succumbing to an overall controlling Spanish outfit.