Spain Beat England to Win Historic Women’s World Cup Title – Spain clinched their first FIFA Women’s World Cup championship by edging out England 1-0 in an exhilarating final clash held at Stadium Australia on Sunday. The decisive triumph was delivered by none other than the team leader, Olga Carmona, who struck the crucial blow during the first half. La Roja’s victory became even more noteworthy due to their recent adversities, which encompassed a player revolt against coach Jorge Vilda and a humbling 4-0 loss to Japan in the group stage.
This win signified Spain’s maiden major title accomplishment, achieved within only their third appearance in the World Cup. Midfielders Aitana Bonmati and Teresa Abelleira orchestrated Spain’s control of the game from the heart of the field, underscoring their supremacy over England. The margin of their win could have been larger if not for the efforts of England’s goalkeeper Mary Earps, who thwarted a penalty shot during the second half.
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In England’s recent match, it was their second loss in 39 games under coach Sarina Wiegman’s leadership. This loss ended their chances of winning their first World Cup title after securing the European Championship last year. The Spain vs. England match was the first Women’s World Cup final without the United States or Germany. The game started with high intensity, and England initially had a slight advantage as two first-time finalists faced off.
England’s forward, Lauren Hemp, showcased her skill by challenging Spain’s defense in the opening moments. In the fifth minute, she drove the ball towards the goal, and 12 minutes later, narrowly missed hitting the target with another attempt that grazed the crossbar. In a quick response, Spain acted swiftly. Olga Carmona made use of her positioning on the left wing to deliver a cross into the penalty area.
Although Salma Paralluelo’s attempt was blocked, Alba Redondo’s subsequent shot was met with an excellent save by Earps. Spain’s shining moment came just before the half-hour mark. A turnover in midfield allowed Teresa Abelleira to execute a precise cross-field pass to Mariona Caldentey. Caldentey skillfully slid the ball ahead to Olga Carmona. The left-back charged into the penalty area and unleashed an angled shot that slipped past Earps’ fingertips, finding the back corner of the net.
This goal deflated England’s momentum, and Spain took control for the remainder of the first half. Spain’s sustained pressure was underscored by Salma Paralluelo’s shot hitting the post shortly before halftime.
In the second half, England made a strategic change by shifting from three to four defenders and substituting Lauren James for Alessia Russo in the forward position. Meanwhile, Spain stuck to their aggressive attacking style, as evidenced by Mariona Caldentey’s strong shot from outside the box that tested Earps in the 50th minute.
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Spain’s Aitana Bonmati nearly increased their lead, hitting the crossbar with a long-range attempt shortly after the 60-minute mark. The Spanish team vigorously appealed for a handball against Keira Walsh while in England’s box, leading to a penalty being awarded eventually. During the VAR review by referee Tori Penso, the penalty seemed inevitable. However, Mary Earps made a remarkable save, diving to her left to thwart Jennifer Hermoso’s spot kick.
Despite England’s commendable efforts, including Lauren James’ shot being tipped over the bar by Spanish goalkeeper Cata Coll in the 75th minute, Spain showed resilience. Even when England pushed all 11 players forward for a corner in stoppage time, Cata Coll confidently caught the ball, securing Spain’s historic victory and their place in the history of women’s football.