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Olga Carmona’s pinpoint finish was enough to settle an absorbing Women’s World Cup final, ensuring Spain’s first ever World Cup title in the women’s game.
England’s Lauren Hemp had hit the bar but that’s as close as the European champions got before Spain struck. Lucy Bronze walked into trouble and Spain pounced at speed on the break, with Olga finishing a slick counter-attack with a crisp shot across England goalkeeper Mary Earps and finding the bottom corner.
It was a goal of the highest quality and meant that England would have to come from behind for the second time in this tournament, but even the half-time introduction of Lauren James and Chloe Kelly couldn’t swing the momentum England’s way.
Instead, Spain had the chance to double their lead from the spot after a lengthy VAR review confirmed a handball against Keira Walsh – but Spanish veteran Jennifer Hermoso was outfoxed by England goalkeeper Mary Earps, who guessed the right way and kept the penalty out.
But England couldn’t find a way through as Spain held firm to secure a historic victory that heralds a new era in the women’s game for Spain.
Their rise to the summit of the women’s game is not without it’s problems but has been meteoric given they only qualified for their first World Cup in 2015. But a run to the quarterfinals of the European Championship in 2022, when they lost to England, laid the foundations for this glittering World Cup run.
More to follow.
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