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MATCH REPORT: Spain end the year with a spectacular comeback victory (5-3)

Montse Tomé's team were able to turn their fortunes around to record a victory that La Rosaleda will not forget in a match that was end to end from the first minute to the last.

The Spanish National Team bid farewell to the year in an unforgettable setting, as La Rosaleda recorded the largest turn out for Spanish women’s football to date. The match did not start well though, as in the first minute, Sweden fortuitously headed in at the far post from a corner, with Zigiotti Olme the goal scorer.

Despite the goal, Spain were dominating possession and territory and frequently made forays into the opposition box. After seven minutes, a counter attack in which Olga Carmona came in from the left ended with the ball crashing against the crossbar. Shortly after, the captain for the day put in a perfect cross for Salma, who got in behind the defence to finish. Throughout the opening part of the game, it was aerial play that was Sweden's biggest threat, something they had already proved with their first goal.

But the game lost all its structure and controlled possession, and Asllani was to put the yellows in front again with a flicked shot past Misa. The Spanish national team continued to create the majority of the chances with Jenni Hermoso having a chance with her head, but the ball went agonisingly wide. Sweden, however, were not able to get their foot on the ball, but every time they did create something, they managed to score. Blackstenius was on the receiving end of a killer pass in the six-yard box to score Sweden's third.

Montse Tomé's team once again imposed themselves on their opponents and managed to close the gap early on in the second half. Olga Carmona was once again the creator, this time it was Athenea del Castillo who popped up in the box to score her fifth goal of the tournament, making her Spain's top scorer in qualifying. But Montse Tomé's team did not give up and kept on fighting. Mariona Caldentey received a loose ball in the box and fired it home with her with everything she had to equalise. The action was not finished there though, immediately afterwards, Fiamma found herself one on one with the goalkeeper and beat her calmly to complete an epic comeback that the record crowd at La Rosaleda will surely not forget any time soon. There was still time for another goal too, to round off the match in the best way possible, Mariona scored after a counter-attack.

With this result, the national team ends the year with a World Cup under their belts and a place in the semi-finals of the UEFA Women's Nations League, which could in the future lead them to another title and a ticket to the Olympic Games.

 

DATA SHEET

SPAIN

Starting XI: Misa Rodríguez (P), Ona Batlle, Ivana Andrés (Laia Codina, 46'), Laia Aleixandri (María Pérez, 75'), Olga Carmona (C), Tere Abelleira, Maite Oroz (Fiamma Benítez, 59'), Jenni Hermoso (Aitana Bonmatí, 59'), Athenea del Castillo (Eva Navarro, 69'), Salma Paralluelo and Mariona Caldentey.

SUBSTITUTES: Enith Salon (P), Cata Coll (P), Irene Paredes, Aitana Bonmatí, Esther González, María Pérez, Oihane Hernández, Eva Navarro, Laia Codina, María Méndez, Fiamma Benítez and Inma Gabarro.

Coach: Montse Tomé.

SWEDEN

Starting XI: Falk (P), Sembrant (Janogy 82'), Lundkvist (Rybrink, 82), Nilden (Anderson, 62'), Eriksson, Asllani (C), Blackstenius, Ilestedt, Angeldal, Rytting Kaneryd and Zigiotti Olme.

SUBSTITUTES: Musovic (P), Holgrem (P), Anderson, Janogy, Vinberg, Jakobsson, Sandberg, Anvegard, Seger, Rybrink, Bennison and Kafaji.

Coach: Peter Gerhardsson.

0-1 | Zigiotti Olme, min. 1.

 

1-1 | Salma Paralluelo, 11th minute.

 

1-2 | Asllani, 14th minute.

 

1-3 | Blackstenius, min. 29.

 

2-3 | Athenea del Castillo, 51st minute.

 

3-3 | Mariona, 78th minute.

 

4-3 | Fiamma, 81st minute.

 

5-3 | Mariona, 89th minute.

Referee: Kateryna Monzul (UKR).

Assistant referees: Maryna Striletska (UKR) y Svitlana Grushko (UKR).

Fourth official: Sofiya Prychyna (UKR).

Matchday 6 of the UEFA Women's Nations League group stage.

 

La Rosaleda Stadium (Malaga).

Yellow cards: Asllani (43').