In a thrilling turn of events, Olga Carmona's last-gasp winner propelled Spain to their inaugural Women's World Cup final, edging past Sweden in a dramatic 2-1 victory on Tuesday.
With the weight of captaincy on her shoulders, Carmona's electrifying shot in the 90th minute ricocheted off the crossbar, stunning the whopping 43,217 spectators at Eden Park, especially coming just moments after Rebecka Blomqvist equalised for Sweden.
Salma Paralluelo, previously acclaimed for her quarter-final heroics against the Netherlands, broke the deadlock for Spain in the 81st minute, injecting energy into a match that was evolving as a tactical, cagey battle.
Following internal rifts within the squad less than 12 months ago, 'La Roja' now have a golden opportunity to clinch the title. They await either co-hosts Australia or England in the ultimate showdown on Sunday.
Sweden, in contrast, endured heartbreak at the semi-final stage once again, mirroring their performances in the previous World Cup in France and last year's European Championship.
Despite Spain's early dominance and creative flair, genuine goal-scoring opportunities were sparse. Carmona threatened with a long-range effort in the 14th minute, while Aitana Bonmati's audacious attempt was off-target.
Sweden's defensive masterclass was momentarily perturbed when Nathalie Bjorn found Fridolina Rolfo with a precise cross. Yet, Rolfo's volley was deftly saved by Spanish goalkeeper Cata Coll.
Desperate for a breakthrough, Spain's coach Jorge Vilda introduced quarter-final star Paralluelo, replacing Alexia Putellas. Paralluelo nearly turned provider in the 70th minute with a crucial pass to Alba Redondo, who couldn't find the net.
However, her moment arrived in the 81st minute when she capitalised on a defensive lapse, sending Spanish supporters into ecstasy.
Sweden seemed to have clinched a late equaliser through Blomqvist, only for Carmona to etch her name in history books. Her decisive strike, deflected by keeper Zecira Musovic onto the bar, confirmed Spain's remarkable journey in this standout World Cup campaign.
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