Jorge Vilda saluted his staff after their extra-time victory over the Netherlands took Spain into the semi-finals on the girls’s World Cup for the primary time.
Salma Paralluelo scored within the 111th minute to revive Spain’s benefit after Stefanie Van der Gragt’s stoppage-time equaliser for the Netherlands.
The 30-year-old atoned for her sins after gifting away a penalty late within the second-half which Maria Caldentey dispatched previous the Dutch goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar.
“They played an extraordinary level – all the players,” mentioned Vilda.
“And the goal from Salma, it was sheer joy. We had to wait for a more few minutes before the final whistle. I’m extremely happy.”
Spain will meet both Sweden or Japan within the semi-final on 15 August at Eden Park in Auckland.
“It’s a great day for Spanish women’s football,” added Vilda. “We’ve reached somewhere we’ve never reached before, and done it playing a good game as well, with a team that is convinced that we can go even further.”
Earthquake
Friday’s conflict on the Wellington Regional Stadium was preceded by a 5.0 magnitude earthquake that shook town an hour earlier than the kick-off.
“Yes the ground shook. It was a moderate shake, an earthquake but we were so concentrated on our preparations.
The Dutch coach Andries Jonker conceded the Spanish were worthy winners. “The fundamental factor is, that is the Netherlands, we are able to play soccer, and we’re among the many greatest groups on the planet.
“Looking at our games against Germany, the United States and Spain, we’re right there.
“We did our greatest.,” he added. “We tried to camouflage our weaknesses and present our strengths, however there’s just one resolution: it’s a must to play ahead, it’s a must to get the ball, keep on the ball, make the sport.
“What we showed during this tournament, sometimes it was fantastic, sometimes it was less than that.”
Originally revealed on RFI