Spain, Sweden advance to Women's World Cup semifinals

Aug. 11 (UPI) -- Salma Paralluelo scored in extra time to lead Spain over the Netherlands, punching the first ticket to the 2023 Women's World Cup semifinals. Sweden later clinched another semifinal spot by edging Japan 2-1.

The No. 3 Swedes will now battle No. 6 Spain for a trip to the Aug. 20 finale.

"You always dream of a moment like this," Spain manager Jorge Vilda said on the Fox broadcast after the 2-1 victory Friday in Wellington, New Zealand. "We've reached the semifinals for the first time. We're among the four best in the world, but we're not going to stop.

"Today, yes, celebrate, but tomorrow we will prepare for the semifinals because we want to be in the final."

Spain outshot the No. 9 Netherlands 26-10 at Wellington Regional Stadium. They also held a 50% to 31% edge in possession and out-passed their foes 671-396.

Spain earned several close chances within the opening 20 minutes. One of those attacks resulted in two shots off the left post. The Spaniards finally appeared to break the deadlock in the 37th minute, but that goal by striker Esther Gonzalez was disallowed because of an off-side call.

The game remained scoreless through halftime. Gonzalez missed another close Spain chance 11 seconds into the second half, when she ripped a shot just wide of the right post.

The Netherlands appeared to draw a penalty kick in the 61st minute, when Spain fullback Irene Paredes took out striker Lineth Beerensteyn in the box. Referees reviewed the play and opted not to award to chance to the Netherlands.

Spain went on to earn a penalty kick because of a Netherlands handball in the box. Forward Mariona Caldentey made that 81st-minute attempt.

Netherlands fullback Stefani van der Gragt scored a dramatic equalizer in the 91st minute. Midfielder Victoria Pelova received a pass just beyond midfield to start that sequence. She then split several defenders with a pass forward for van der Gragt.

The defender raced ahead before firing an 18-yard shot into the left side-netting. Both sides had chances in extra time, but couldn't finish until Paralluelo's 111-minute clincher.

Midfielder Jenni dribbled around defenders at midfield before she spotted Paralluelo starting a run from the left flank on the play. Jenni then released a pass in front of the midfielder, who gained control and dribbled toward the box.

Paralluelo did a step-over move to separate from Netherlands defender Aniek Nouwen. She finished the play with a shot off the right post, which ricocheted into the left side of the net.

Later Friday, Sweden also advanced by holding off Japan in Auckland, New Zealand.

Sweden and Japan were fairly close on the attack, with 12 and 11 respective attempts on net. Japan put more shots on target (6-3), but converted just once.

"I am proud of the players for not giving up and fighting till the end," Japan manager Futoshi Ikeda said. "It's difficult to sort things out right now, but I think the players showed what we are able to do as Japan."

Sweden striker Stina Blackstenius nearly drew first blood in the 25th minute when she crushed a shot just wide of the right post. Japan answered with another close attempt, but it was fullback Amanda Ilestedt who found the net first about seven minutes after Blackstenius' close call.

That sequence started with a 30-yard free kick from Swedish midfielder Kosovare Asllani. The ball bounced around in the box, which led to several attempts by Sweden. Japan denied four shots before the ball bounced down to Illestedt, who finished the play with a point-blank range shot into the upper right corner of the goal.

Asllani hit the inside of the right post with another close Sweden attempt in the 42nd minute, but the Swedes didn't double their advantage until the second half.

Sweden's Madelen Janogy took down Riko Ueki in the box in the 74th minute to prompt a Japan penalty. Ueki then stepped up to the spot and blasted the penalty kick off the crossbar, failing to convert.

No. 11 Japan finally cut into the lead in the 87th minute. Forward Aoba Fujino started the sequence with a free kick, which hit the cross bar and bounced off the back of Sweden goalie Zecira Musovic.

Sweden cleared the rebound off the goal line, but striker Jun Endo passed off to defender Kiko Seike seconds later in the left side of the Sweden box.

Seike then scooped a pass closer to the goal, but that feed was deflected by the Swedish defense. Midfielder Honoka Hayashi then ran into the area and smashed a low shot into the net from about 10 yards out.

Japan earned several more close attempts in stoppage time, but could not net an equalizer in the quarterfinal.

Sweden will meet Spain in the first Women's World Cup semifinal at 4 a.m. EDT Tuesday at Eden Park in Auckland.

Host-country Australia (No. 10) will face No. 5 France in the third quarterfinal at 3 a.m. Saturday in Brisbane. No. 4 England will meet No. 25 Colombia in the last quarterfinal at 6:30 a.m. Saturday in Sydney. The winners from those matchups will battle in the other semifinal at 6 a.m. Wednesday in Sydney.