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Spain has reached its first Women's World Cup final with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Sweden thanks to a stunning last-minute goal from captain Olga Carmona.
Sweden hit back with two-and-half minutes left in regulation, with Lina Hurtig's header finding fellow substitute Rebecka Blomqvist unmarked in the box, where she was able to side-foot a bouncing ball past Spanish goalkeeper Cata Coll.
But that 1-1 deadlock on lasted 93 seconds.
Teresa Abelleira played short off a corner to Carmona, who steadied and belted a shot from the edge of the box over the outstretched hand of a diving Zećira Mušović, the ball hammering against the underside of the crossbar and into the goal.
Olga Carmona rocketed the game-winner in from the edge of the 18-yard box with a minute left.(Getty Images: Jan Kruger/FIFA)
There was exactly one minute left in regulation as that ball ricocheted in, leaving Sweden desperately searching for an equaliser in eight minutes of stoppage time, but they could not find it.
"It could've been difficult to recover from their goal, but we've shown that his team can deal with everything," said goalscorer Paralluelo — who became just the second teenager to score in a Women's World Cup semifinal after Canada's Kara Lang in 2003, also in a match against Sweden.
"We deserved this. We took this little step, and now we need that final push."
While world number six Spain is into its first final, Sweden once again fell at the semifinal stage, with the 2003 runners-up having now reached the final four five times without lifting the trophy.
Rebecka Blomqvist's goal only served as an equaliser for 90 seconds before Spain's stunning winner. (Getty Images: Fiona Goodall/FIFA)
Sweden has also won consecutive silver medals at the Olympic Games, leaving the Blågult without a major win at a global tournament despite their incredible consistency.
Spain, which is yet to leave New Zealand, will travel to Sydney for the final, where it will await the winner of Wednesday's second semifinal between England and the Matildas.
"Now it's the final. I think we have to do what we've done in every match," Paralluelo said.
"We've overcome every challenge and now we face the ultimate challenge, the big one."
Look back at how all the action unfolded in our live blog from Auckland/Tāmaki Makaurau.
After the heartache, sportsmanship
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Aitana Bonmati and Fridolina Rolfö - teammates at Barcelona - are celebrating together.
You love to see it - after a full-blooded battle over the last 90 minutes, there is still space for this degree of camaraderie.
We'll be back for more World Cup semifinal action tomorrow in what will certainly be a pressure-cooker of an atmosphere at Stadium Australia and in the many fansites around the country.
We hope you enjoy that match too, so get some rest in - we'll be back to do it all tomorrow.
Salma Paralluelo player of the match
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Not bad given she played just 34 minutes.
Not that she did not deserve it. A team-high four shots, eight touches in the Sweden box... it was a real impact performance from the teenager
Why, what's happening tomorrow?
Thanks for the blog Simon and Jon - see ya tomorrow
- Mike
Oh right, that game.
That's right - the big match from Australia's perspective is coming up tomorrow, an 8:00pm AEST kick off time from Stadium Australia.
We'll have the blog coming at you with all the build up and carry us through to the conclusion.
Sydney is the stage, Australia against England the story to be played out upon it - does it get any better?
Spain serious contenders
Spain now looking like serious contenders for the title given their attacking prowess, the final should be enthralling regardless of whether they play England or the Matildas.
- Adam
Given all the controversy in the build up, where 15 players withdrew from the squad and demanded change from the Federation - this is some achievement.
Spain are a seriously good team - but they have excelled in New Zealand.
They can hurt you in different ways - with speed and footwork initially, or through the air with Paralluelo off the bench.
It's a hell of an achievement and now they're in the final it's a real 50:50 call.
Lightning strikes twice
Another gem from StatsPerform.
19-year-old Salma Paralluelo became the second teenager to score in a FIFA Women’s World Cup semifinal tonight.
The other teen to score at this stage of the competition was Kara Lang, aged just 16 for Canada in 2003.
That was against Sweden too.
20 years apart - same teenage angst for Sweden(Getty Images)
93 seconds between delight and disaster for Sweden
That's all it took from Sweden scoring the equaliser and Spain going back ahead.
88' (Getty Images)89'(Getty Images)
It might not surprise you that this is the first Women's World Cup match to have the first goal scored in the final ten minutes and still end up with three total goals scored.
What a photo
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As a wise Scot once said.
"Football. Bloody hell."
Sweden fall short. Again
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Three-time Women's World Cup third-place finishers.
Five-time European Championship semifinalists.
Two-time defending Olympic silver medalists.
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Sweden has never won a major tournament and their agonising wait will go on.
This is the fourth time they have been eliminated from the World Cup semifinals - more than any other team.
They can win another bronze medal in the third-place playoff in Brisbane on Saturday - but that will be scant consolation.
Incredible drama
Whew! What a final 15 minutes! - Thanks Spain...... umm...I think...
- Mike
What a conclusion to this match.
Extraordinary stuff.
Spain had two shots on target in the match.
They scored with both of them.
FULL TIME! SPAIN ARE IN THE WORLD CUP FINAL!
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Spain wins 2-1!
Spain are in the Women's World Cup final for the first time in their history!
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The Spanish players are streaming after each other in delirious scenes of joy!
Spain had never even won three games in a row at the Women's World Cup!
They have now - they're the first team into the World Cup final.
90+8' Chance Sweden!
Hurtig crosses but Coll comes and takes.
90+5' Sub Spain
Esther González has come on for Mariona Caldentey.
Spain will need to try everything to take time off the clock here because Sweden are coming with some ferocity here.
Sweden, in turn, will need to temper their aggression and make sure they don't give away any soft fouls.
90+1' Chance Sweden!
A long ball is chased away and cleared by Coll, who goes down and the referee comes over and tells her to get up!
You don't mind seeing that from the referee!
She helped her up and said get on with it.
There will be seven additional minutes.
89' GOAL SPAIN!
EXTRAORDINARY!
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Teresa Abelleira plays the ball out from a corner to Olga Carmona, who side-footed the ball from 25 yards out off the crossbar and in!
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Incredible goal!
Incredible drama!
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88' GOAL SWEDEN!
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It's the substitute who makes a telling intervention!
Rebecka Blomqvist powers home after Hurtig kept a deep cross alive.
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It's the fourth goal they've scored in the final 15 minutes of a game at this World Cup!
They never give up!
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85' Spain keeper goes down
Bit of gamesmanship here from Cata Coll?
She is getting some treatment while her teammates are all together on the sideline.
She'll be OK to continue, but in that time Sweden made a change.
Hurtig comes on for Rubensson.
84' Chance Sweden!
Eriksson heads the ball across goal after a nicely worked free kick from the Swedes.
They started centre-left, switched to centre right and that change of angle was telling. Almost.
No Swedish player could get on the end of it and the chance goes begging.
81' GOAL SPAIN!
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She has been the danger player ever since she came on!
Hermoso put the cross in from the left and it was deflected into path of Salma Paralluelo.
She shoots first time right footed into the bottom corner of the goal!
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VAR is checking, Eva Navarro, was in an offside position but there was no chance of her affecting play, was there?
NO! GOAL STANDS!
It's her eighth goal in 13 appearances for Spain. Incredible.
80' Chance Spain
Another ball finds its way across to Paralluelo, but she shot is blocked at source.
80' Spain yet to have a shot on target in the match
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Spain have had 73.2 per cent possession in the last 15 minutes.
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