Spain defeated England 1-0 at Sydney’s Stadium Australia to win the FIFA Women’s World Cup. The victory was resounding and well-deserved.
Olga Carmona became the team’s historical hero with a brilliant goal that gave La Roja its first major championship and completed an exceptional clean sweep of FIFA titles at the U-17, U-20, and senior levels.
The championship game featured thrilling end-to-end play from the first whistle on.
England registered the first effort of note when Lauren Hemp crashed a left-foot shot against the bar with a quarter of an hour played, however, it was Spain that created the better chances throughout the match.
Spain kept gaining self-assurance, and in the 29th minute, they scored a stunning goal to break the deadlock.
At the halfway point, Spain received the ball, and Caldentey found Carmona on her left side inside the box. Carmona then skillfully struck the bottom left corner of the far post with a shot that sent the Spanish crowd into raptures.
Mary Earps of England, who has been outstanding throughout the World Cup, saved the Lionesses once more in the 68th minute after a VAR review of a Keira Walsh handball led to the awarding of a penalty. By making the right move, she was able to hold the shot and give her team new hope.
Nevertheless, Spain played the remainder of the game relaxed and composedly before erupting in jubilation at the sound of the final whistle.
According to statistics, Spain have become the first nation to have won the FIFA U-17 and U-20 Women’s World Cups simultaneously.
“Of course, it feels really bad now. We’re very, very disappointed. You go to the final, you want to give everything, you want to win the final. And then you lose it, that happens in sports. But I think what we’ve done, how we have shown ourselves, how we want to play as a team, and by overcoming so many challenges, I think we can be very proud of ourselves.”
Sarina Wiegman, England coach
