Objective accomplished. Spain had to draw or win against Denmark to seal their place in the quarterfinals of the European Championship and they did it. There was suffering until the end and the lack of aim once again hovered over the team. Spain dominated their rival, was without a doubt superior and had possession, but again they lacked effectiveness. When it seemed that the equalizer was enough, the goal came in the 90th minute Martha Cardona, substitute in the three meetings of this Euro, to tie a victory without excessive brilliance and without convincing but enough to comply. those of Wild They will now face the powerful England, on Wednesday the 20th in Brighton (9pm).
Wild He opted for his most offensive starting team. If the slogan was to ally with the goal once and for all, the coach threw Arsenal with the 21-year-old Athena of the Castle (Real Madrid) on point and Mariona Caldentey (Barça) as a pivot to generate more danger. The bet was a success and from the outset Spain became the owner of the match.
those of Wild They already imposed their game in the early stages, although the Danes’ idea of the game was soon demonstrated, which through Pernille Harder They staged up to three clear scoring chances in just a few minutes.
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There was a first approach from Spain after two minutes with a Athena very attentive at the front of the area, where Mariona Caldentey He tried a very dangerous center that no one could finish off. He approached Denmark on the left in the 6th minute, after Roads try to outdo Good Batlleand faced with the impossibility, tried a center that ended up clearing Patri.
quarter of an hour, Pernille Harder, Considered one of the best players in the world, she began to do her thing by sending a high ball, intimidated by the departure of Sandra Paños. At 17, she again Toughr again received a magnificent long ball, although his shot ended up being blocked by Sandra Cloths in a great stop of the Barça goal. Denmark seemed comfortable, while the nerves began to take over the Red.
The best images of Denmark – Spain
The first great scoring chance for Spain came when Irene Paredes advanced lines until almost three quarters of the rival field, put a center to the penalty spot where M arrivedariona Caldenteybut his header went high.
had it Athena of the Castle in the 24th minute, when he reached the edge, he was outlined and his shot ended up in the hands of the goalkeeper Christensen.
Denmark defended itself with order against the attacks of the Red and had its greatest threat in Harder. Really, each escape of the Nordic was a capital scare. In the 26th minute, it was again a dagger as he reached the baseline and put the cross back but Holmgaard could not control.
Half an hour later, Mariona Caldentey had her second big chance: a good shot from inside the area that Christensen caught the goal.
Shortly after, there was a serious error from the Danish goal, which could not block an aerial ball and was close to being used by Athenea to open the scoring. They were the best minutes of Spain, a team with character, with dominance, incisive. Only the goal was missing, but it had to come.
Another nice shot from Caldentey from inside the area he was caught by the Danish goal. Shortly after, the goalkeeper lost the ball, but Athenea was unable to connect a shot to the net. And at the edge of rest he had it Irene Paredes in a shot that slipped into the goal, but the central Sorensen took the ball at the last moment.
Spain went to the locker room with raw nerves and some frustration. She dominated possession, but without creating too much danger for a Denmark that was doing damage with the counterattacks.
Freshness and bite were sought in the second half with three changes that gave way to Olga Carmona, Marta Cardona and Esther González. He changed the panorama in attack with the Real Madrid players.
had it Carmona in the 56th minute, with a shot from the recently entered winger who went wide after taking advantage of the rebound from the Danish defense. In 59′, Cardona did not reach the filtered pass of Caldentey. The feeling was that of having the game under control but being aware that Denmark could surprise at any moment and that they were going to attack in the last minutes. It was necessary to find the goal to seal the ticket to the quarterfinals as soon as possible. Rhythm and fluidity were lacking to get unstuck in front of goal.
Mapi Leon he finished off the corner kick to the side of the net and was about to surprise the Danish goal at 63′. couldn’t get there Esther González the ball on the next play, after Irene Paredes looked for the filtered pass from almost the midfield line. Spain was much more active.
In 72′, he tried his luck Olga Carmona from very far but he cleared the Danish goal very well, which he rejected to the side. And providential was Sandra Paños, who played an excellent game, in one of the most dangerous occasions for the Danish team, after a great cut by Nadim inside the area that ended with the shot on goal, although with a great action from the goal Alicante.
In minute 84, Denmark came close to scoring an own goal. Mapi’s center was poisoned and the Danish defense in the clearance attempt was about to beat their own goal.
The insistence of Spain finally had its reward with the goal of Martha Cardona to break the curse of the lack of goal. Great header from the Real Madrid player who put the ball on Christensen’s post. A goal in the final stretch to seal the pass to the quarterfinals.