SantaFeToday.com Santa Fe’s Hometown News
By Arnie Leshin
Something new at the Women’s World Soccer Cup, and it’s England and Spain sharing it.
With host Australia having to settle for the bronze medal match against Sweden on Saturday in Brisbane, the Sunday championship at Stadium Australia in Sydney will have England and Spain in their first-time final.
The Aussies were eliminated 3-1 by the Brits in the semifinals played in New Zealand. It was the furthest the Matildas had advanced.
And in the other semis, it was Spain topping the Swedes, 2-1, also in penalty kicks to also gain its initial appearance in the title game.
It will also make for the first all-European final since 2003.
As for the British, it topped its group by advancing over Nigeria in penalty kicks in the Round of 16, then defeating Columbia in the hard-fought quarters before eliminating Australia.
It was the Lionesses third straight time in the semifinals and it really picked up the pace versus the Aussies, who had been a co-host with New Zealand.
Despite the huge throng backing the Matildas, The Brits sure looked sharp in the first half and in the match’s final 20 minutes when it had a harder edge and was more clinical when it counted.
Prior to this game, Australia appeared to have played its final in 7-6 penalty shootout win over France, and it became its initial success in four quarterfinals, with 63,745 on hand at Wellington, New Zealand.
It was large crowds for every match involving the Aussies, with 75,784-strong in the home stands for the Great Britain tussle and millions more watching on the tubes, but England’s ladies had a little too much going despite being outnumbered.
Spain continued to play stout defense keeping its opponents from getting strong shots, and in its end, worked the ball well, was patient, and then took over for good via the penalty shootout.
Said Australian coach Tony Gustavson: “It was one of those games, unfortunately. We had a chance at 2-2 and a few minutes later, we were down 3-1. We are still hoping to win third place and those bronze medals.”
But England and Spain, they will take the championship trophy route to hoist it and either claiming gold or silver medals. They can expect upwards of 70,000.
