With two goals from the scorer Inma Gabarro, the Spanish team beat the Netherlands squad 2-1 this Thursday and qualified for the final of the 2022 Women’s U-20 World Cup in Costa Rica. Once again, Gabarro was the most decisive player facing the goal of a superior Spain with their goals at minute 22 and 25, so that later the defense knew how to withstand the push of the Dutch, especially after Rosa Van Gool scored the discount at 54.
Spain imposed their conditions from the start of the game at the San José National Stadium with high pressure and with Paralluelo, Martínez, Gabarro and Elexpuro practically positioned as strikers, which stifled the Dutch team’s exit and led to a lot of insecurity in their defense. The Netherlands proposed a counterattack strategy and came close to opening the scoring in the 5th minute when Rijsbergen escaped solo, but his shot went just short of the vertical.
From that play on, the game was completely dominated by Spain in the first half with constant arrivals from the sides and dangerous shots from Salma Paralluelo (named MVP in the semifinal) and Ansu Martínez. But it was Inma Gabarro who tipped the scales after beating goalkeeper Alkemade after an error in Van Diemen’s exit at minute 22.
Three minutes later, Gabarro scored the second with a goal from the edge of the area, which left the Dutch goalkeeper static. In this way, Gabarro established herself as the top scorer in the World Cup with 7 goals.
In the second half the story changed because the Netherlands squad was encouraged to attack with the speed of their attacking trident made up of Rijsbergen, Henry and Hulswit. In the 54th minute Rosa Van Gool scored a great goal from outside the area to bring her team closer to the scoreboard, which became the first goal conceded by Spain in the entire World Cup.
Danique Noordman gave another warning in the 57th minute with another powerful shot from outside the area that passed close to the vertical of Txell Font’s goal. With the score at 2-1, the match was even and Spain found some space in the rival defense, however the Blaugrana Paralluelo did not have the right aim to widen the score.
The physical effort took its toll on the Netherlands, who lost their ability to attack, while Spain wasted some moves to increase their lead. The final will be played against Japan, current champion of the tournament, who beat Brazil by the same result (2-1).
2. Spain: Txell Font, Esther Laborde (Maite Zubieta, m.68), Ana Tejada, Andrea Medina, Silvia Lloris; Ariadna Mingueza, Julia Bartel, Asun Martínez (Izarne Sarasola, m.84); Salma Paralluelo (Ornella Vignola, m.84), Ane Elexpuru and Inma Gabarro (Mirari Uría, m.84).
Coach: Pedro Lopez.
1. Países Bajos: Lisan Alkemade, Kim Everaerts, Samantha Van Diemen, Nina Nijstad, Senna Koeleman; Dana Foederer, Danique Noordman, Rosa Van Gool; Liz Rijsbergen, Ziva Henry (Shi-Jona Martina, m.85) y Zera Hulswit (Charlotte Hulst, m.69).
Coach: Jessica Torny. Admonished the Spanish Bartel.
Referee: the American Tory Penso.
Goals: 1-0, m.22: Gabarro. 2-0, m.25: Gabarro. 2-1, m.54: Van Gool.
Incidents: Semifinal match of the 2022 Women’s U20 World Cup in Costa Rica, played at the San José National Stadium.
