SYDNEY: Spain won the Women’s Football World Cup for the first time in their history with skipper Olga Carmona striking in the first half for 1-0 victory over England in final on Sunday.
The sensational encounter was a fitting conclusion to a tournament in Australia and New Zealand which broke records and will be remembered for how the supposed minnows closed the gap on the sides at the top.
In front of a packed crowd of about 76,000 fans at Stadium Australia in Sydney, Spain proved to be more accomplished team and had more chances, including missing a second-half penalty.
Spain’s victory was vindication for Jorge Vilda and the Spanish football federation, who stuck with the coach even after fifteen players in 2022 said they no longer wanted to represent their country under him, according to AFP.
Defender Carmona netted the ball what turned out to be the winner, rampaging from left-back to thrash the ball in low and hard on twenty-nine minutes past England goalkeeper Mary Earps.
The 42-year-old Vilda said that it was difficult to describe, and she felt immense joy and pride for this historical win.
In front of the watching Queen Letizia, Spain won a penalty twenty minutes from the end when Keira Walsh was ruled to have handled in the box after a long VAR review.
But Jennifer Hermoso’s weak penalty was smoothly saved by Earps to provide England a lifeline and keep alive their dreams of winning the mega event for the first time.
But if anything, Spain looked more aggressive to score again.
Spanish players celebrate
Spain’s enthusiastic players raced off the bench at the final whistle, while English players were left distraught, some with their heads in their hands and others in tears.
Spain is the 5th team to win the World Cup trophy since the mega-event started in 1991, joining outgoing champions the US, Japan, Norway, and Germany.
