Spain won the women’s World Cup for the first time, beating England, 1-0, for its first world championship. La Roja prevailed in the all-European final to win its sport’s premier event, scoring the only goal in the 29th minute when Olga Carmona found the net on a counterattack. England, the European champion, has still yet to win a men’s or women’s World Cup since 1966.
The United States had won the previous two women’s World Cups but lost in the round of 16.
Sweden beat Australia, 2-0, in the third-place match.
Second semifinal
England dashed the hope of a Matildas-mad Australia with its 3-1 win, pulling away after Australian star Sam Kerr had leveled the match in the second half on a brilliant strike. But poor defending cost Australia, and late goals from Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo put the Lionesses on the verge of their first title.
First semifinal
Olga Carmona scored in the 89th minute to cap a frenetic flurry in the final 10 minutes and lift La Roja past Sweden, 2-1. Spain had never been past the round of 16 before this tournament.
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The match was scoreless until the 81st minute, when Salma Paralluelo, a 19-year-old substitute, finally put Spain ahead. But Rebecca Blomqvist scored in the 88th minute to equalize for Sweden. Less than two minutes later, Carmona’s strike from distance put Spain back ahead for good.
Sweden was making its fifth appearance in a women’s World Cup semifinal, but it has yet to win this event.
Wrapping up the women’s World Cup
Here’s a look at the final results of the knockout round.
Recapping the women’s World Cup group stage
The group stage saved its biggest shocker for last. Germany, a former champion and the No. 2-ranked team in the world, was eliminated after a 1-1 draw with South Korea. That left Colombia as the winner of Group H, and Morocco as the second team through.
Earlier, France overpowered Panama to win Group F, and Jamaica advanced on the strength of a 0-0 draw with Brazil. Sweden took care of business against Argentina to win Group G and secure a round-of-16 meeting with the United States, while South Africa beat Italy to clinch second place in Group G.
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South Africa will next meet the Netherlands, which routed Vietnam to finish first in Group E. That left the two-time defending champion U.S. women’s national team in second, and with a far harder road ahead. England overpowered China, 6-1, to win Group D, while Denmark defeated Haiti to finish second.
In Group C, Japan beat Spain to win finish first but both teams advanced to the round of 16. Tournament co-host Australia smashed Canada to claim Group B, while Nigeria finished second after its draw with Ireland.
Group A was the first to wrap up. Switzerland, yet to concede a goal, clinched first with a 0-0 draw against New Zealand, while heavyweight Norway took
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