Sweden, one of the strongest contenders for the title, and Spain are discussing entry to the 2023 Women’s World Cup final as victories over the Netherlands and Japan respectively secure them for next Friday’s semi-finals.
In the biggest game of the quarter-finals, played in Auckland, Sweden confirmed their status as favorites by beating 2-1 against a Japanese team who had also impressed — highlighting Spain’s 4-0 thrashing in the group stage — and who never failed to threaten a draw.
That’s the name of the game. @SvenskFotboll | #FIFAWWC
– FIFA Women’s World Cup (@FIFAWWC) August 11, 2023
The Scandinavians, finalists defeated in 2003, won 2-0 thanks to goals from Amanda Ilestedt in the 32nd minute and Filippa Angeldahl in the 51st with a penalty kick, but the Japanese reduced in the 87th minute. by Honoka Hayashi, after Riko Ueki missed a penalty in the 76th minute.
After knocking out the United States in the round of 16, two-time champion (2015 and 2019) and tournament record holders, with four trophies won, in eight completed editions, Sweden now has the 2011 world champion, which preceded the ‘bi’ North American .
Japan, runners-up in 2015, searched in vain for a draw that would take the game into extra time and said goodbye to the World Cup with Hinata Miyazawa as top scorer, with five goals, now more threatened by Ilestedt, than this Friday’s fourth ended.
The Swedish team will take on Spain in the semi-finals, which qualified for the first time for such an advanced stage on Friday, by pushing ahead 2-1 after extra time against the Netherlands, the current runners-up and winner of the group of Portugal in the first stage, also ahead of the United States.
Take a breath! @SEFutbolFem reach their first #FIFAWWC Semi Final after a sensational game against the Netherlands.
– FIFA Women’s World Cup (@FIFAWWC) August 11, 2023
In Wellington, the historic result seemed to be in the bag when Mariona Caldentey opened the scoring from a penalty in the 81st minute, but the Dutch drew ‘out of hours’ at 90+1 through Stephanie van der Gragt.
The Iberian team, one of the youngest in the league, kept alive the dream of winning their first major international title thanks to the 111th-minute goal of Salma Paralluelo, transformed into a Spanish heroine at the age of 19.
The other quarter-final matches, scheduled for Saturday, will pit co-hosts Australia against France and England, the current European champions, against Colombia.
Source: DN
