Spain advance to the semi-finals of the Women’s World Cup with a 2-1 overtime win over Holland after VAR review controversially ruled out a Netherlands penalty
- Referee Stephanie Frappart took back a yellow card in a controversial decision
- The game ended in overtime after teenager Salma Paralluelo equalized
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In a game in which the Dutch converted a crucial penalty, Spain advanced to the semi-finals of the Women’s World Cup for the first time in history, beating Holland 2-1 in extra time.
Earlier in the competition, the Netherlands were controversially denied a penalty after striker Lineth Beerensteyn was fouled in the penalty area by Spain’s Irene Paredes.
However, after consulting VAR, referee Stephanie Frappart overturned Paredes’ yellow card and no penalty was awarded.
Spain scored their first goal of the night thanks to a handball from Stefanie van der Gragt in the box, which led to a penalty converted by Mariona Caldentey.
Van der Gragt returned the favor with a fantastic long-range shot and tied the game at 1-1.
Salma Paralluelo (18) scored the winner for Spain’s entry into the World Cup semi-finals
A controversial VAR review resulted in a penalty for Netherlands’ Lineth Beerensteyn (7).
A Spain penalty converted by Mariona Caldentey in the 81st minute was parried in added time by Dutch centre-back Stefanie van der Gragt with a rocket hit that forced extra time
In extra time, teenager Paralluelo sent her country through to the semi-finals for the first time ever
In the second half of extra time, the exceptional Salma Paralluelo, 19, broke down the left, hesitated, then hit the net – and watched her shot ricochet off the goalkeeper’s left post and ricocheted into the net to break the goal for bring a standstill and give victory to Spain.
That win for Spain was marred, however, by the controversy over the penalty not being awarded – there were divided discussions online as to whether or not it was right to overturn the referee’s initial decision.
Scores of football commentators and fans took to Twitter to voice their opinions on the decision.
“It should be a penalty and a red card,” said former US defender and FOX Sports pundit Alexi Lalas.
“I don’t know if there’s enough evidence to disprove that.” Soft pen, but a penalty nonetheless. “I think Spain got lucky here,” reads the report on popular American soccer podcast The Cooligans.
Former US striker and Apple TV soccer announcer Taylor Twellman simply tweeted a series of emojis expressing shock, then eye roll, followed by a clown face.
Others felt that the referee was right to overturn the original decision.
“I’m really (not really) shocked at how many people think this was a punishment,” wrote one user. “Now I would like to say that I don’t think it was a clear and obvious mistake for VAR to intervene but if you look at the game in a vacuum I don’t think it was worth a penalty and never should have been .”
Another user said, “She was reaching out, so I get that.”
Live on FOX Sports, color commentator and former US women’s national team midfielder Aly Wagner said the referee made a bad call and that Paredes pushed Beerensteyn from behind.
The discussion on the Internet was divided as to whether or not a penalty should have been imposed
The result means the end of the road for Holland, who entered the tournament as reigning runners-up in the World Cup and ninth best team in the world.
Spain has reached the semi-finals for the first time in its history.
The sixth-placed team in the world defeated Costa Rica and Zambia in the group stage before losing their final game to Japan. In the round of 16 they clearly beat Switzerland 5:1.
Spain will play the winner of the game between Japan and Sweden to decide who will reach the final of the Women’s World Cup on August 20th.