It got a little weird in Wellington
This unprecedented, unusual World Cup will feature at least one new semifinalist.
Spain defeated the Netherlands 2-1 in extra time in a game defined by the woodwork, some big VAR decisions, and more than a little strangeness.
Despite keeping Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas on the bench for over 100 minutes, and long spells of the game seeming to be about how they might never score, La Roja moved on thanks to Salma Paralluelo’s extra-time strike, which capped off a game that saw tactical caginess give way to late drama.
It almost never happened. Spain had plenty of the ball, but seemed cursed to walk off wondering how their possession and chances hadn’t amounted to enough goals.
How else do you explain a sequence like this, in which Alba Redondo had a shot tipped onto the post, tapped the rebound against the same post, and then had a very convincing penalty shout (stemming from Stefanie van der Gragt clearly handling the ball while on the ground) turned down?
Roughly 20 minutes later, the Dutch survived an even closer call. Mariona Caldentey again served up a good ball from the left, and Redondo could have easily tapped home from four yards.
Instead, she opted to give Esther González an even closer-range chance, but the Real Madrid striker happened to be offside. Esther may have put the ball in the back of the net, but the score still justly stood at 0-0.
Maybe the fates just didn’t want to see either team score. Shortly after the hour mark, Lineth Beerensteyn appeared to have won a penalty after beating Irene Paredes to a ball over the top. Referee Stéphanie Frappart took a long look at her assistant, gave the penalty, booked Paredes…and then took it all back after checking VAR.
Finally, in the 80th minute, out of the most innocuous Spanish attack, Paralluelo’s hopeful ball into the box was touched down by van der Gragt’s hand.
Was it in the area? Frappart didn’t grant a penalty at first, but VAR intervened yet again. After a check of the monitor, this time Frappart decided that this game could finally, possibly, have a goal.
Caldentey stepped up, and though she hit the post — a sick cosmic joke in this game, apparently — the ball managed to carry over the line. Daphne van Domselaar’s excellent tournament did not budget for a dive in the right direction, and Spain had an 81st minute lead.
So, misery for van der Gragt, right? A resilient effort comes up just short after a handball that was inside the box by inches. The veteran had announced that she will retire once the tournament ends, and what a brutal way to go out.
Well, about that: the Netherlands threw van der Gragt up front as a prayer, just a big ol’ target striker hoping to win one header in stoppage time to somehow create a goal.
Perhaps they should have tried it earlier? Just seconds into stoppage time, the Dutch center back — later confirmed onside by maybe a foot — produced a clinical long-range shot, stunning Spain with an equalizer.
Extra time was required, but there was no escape from the importance of the posts at Wellington Regional Stadium. At one end, Beerensteyn followed up her own somewhat confusing bit of big talk by missed a sitter.
Shortly thereafter Paralluelo — in one of Spain’s only attempts at direct play all game — beat her defender, kissed the post with a shot past van Domselaar, then wheeled away to celebrate as it crossed the line.
This time, there were no more interventions from the post, VAR, or Frappart. Spain advanced to a first-ever women’s World Cup semifinal, where it will face Sweden.
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