Nigeria Premier League

WWC: Paralluelo scores in extra time as Spain beat Netherlands to reach semi-finals

Teenager Salma Paralluelo hit an extra-time winner as Spain beat the Netherlands 2-1 at the Women’s World Cup on Friday to set up a semi-final clash with Japan or Sweden.

Over a tense 90 minutes in Wellington full of incident, Mariona Caldentey scored an 81st-minute penalty for Spain, only for Dutch defender Stefanie van der Gragt to equalise in added time 10 minutes later.

With the quarter-final seemingly headed for penalties, the 19-year-old substitute Paralluelo produced a brilliant solo finish in the 111th minute to put Spain into the last four for the first time.

They will now face Sweden or Japan in Auckland on Tuesday while the tournament is over for the Dutch, beaten finalists four years ago.

“It’s hard now,” said Van der Gragt, whose last game in football was an eventful one — conceding the penalty for handball, then equalising, before Paralluelo’s decisive, late intervention.

“We had the chance in extra time and we didn’t score, they had one chance and they scored. That’s football.”

Abdul Noah Ocholi

Share
Published by
Abdul Noah Ocholi

Recent Posts

NFF Reforms: Nigeria Pitch Awards Founder Highlights Benefits Of President Tinubu’s Bold Step

The founder and President of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, Shina Philips, has expressed gratitude to…

1 month ago

FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup: Busari invites 25 for first phase of final camping in Abuja

  Head Coach Hakeem Busari has invited 26 players to the camp of the Nigeria…

1 month ago

FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup: Falconets pip host nation Poland 1-0 in friendly

Nigeria’s U20 girls, the Falconets, defeated their Poland counterparts 1-0 on Friday in a friendly…

1 month ago

Tobi Amusan’s 100m Hurdles World Record Broken by Masai Russell

Tobi Amusan's 100m Hurdles World Record Falls as Masai Russell Makes History in Zurich Tobi…

1 month ago

Yaya Touré Wants Barcelona and Man City After Slovan Champions League Qualification

Yaya Touré Wants Barcelona and Manchester City After Slovan Bratislava's Historic Champions League Qualification Yaya…

1 month ago

Juventus Revive Interest in Crystal Palace Striker Jean-Philippe Mateta

Juventus Revive Interest in Crystal Palace Star Jean-Philippe Mateta Juventus have revived their interest in…

1 month ago