AUCKLAND/SYDNEY: Sweden and Spain will be flying the flag for Europe in the last four of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand after narrow quarter-final victories over Netherlands and Japan.

Spain reached the semi-finals for the first time after teenage substitute Salma Paralluelo grabbed what proved the winning goal with nine minutes remaining in extra time.

Coach Jorge Vilda said: “Even in extra time the team kept on believing. They played on an extraordinary level, all the players, and it was a match with a lot of emotional decisions. The goal from Salma was sheer joy.”

Once again VAR played a central role, denying Spain for offside what would have been an opening goal from Esther Gonzalez in the 37^th minute. They would have deserved the lead. Earlier Alba Redondo hit the posts twice in quick succession.

After the interval referee Stephanie Frappart awarded Netherlands a penalty a collision between Irene Paredes and Lineth Beerensteyn but then reversed her decision on VAR advice. VAR also proved crucial when Frappart awarded Spain an 80th-minute penalty which Mariona Caldentey converted.

The penalty was awarded for handball by Stefanie van der Gragt who made amends in stoppage time by equalising. Paralluelo then came off the bench to put Spain’s women into their first major semi-final for 26 years.

In Tuesday’s semi-final Spain will face Sweden who defeated Japan’s Nadeshiko 2-1 in Auckland.

Goals from Amanda Ilestedt after 32 minutes and Filippa Angeldahl in the 52^nd from a penalty put Sweden in control. They were troubled only in the closing stages after Japan’s Riko Ueki missed a penalty and Aoba Fujino hit the posts before Honoka Hayashi struck a consolation in the 87th minute.

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