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Spain overcame missing two penalties to beat hosts Switzerland 2-0 in Bern on Friday to reach the Women’s Euro semifinals for just the second time in their history.
Swiss resistance was broken by the world champions’ two goals in a five-minute spell midway through the second half.
Forward Athenea del Castillo came off the bench to open the scoring and Clàudia Pina added a superb second to secure a meeting with France or Germany in Zurich on Wednesday.
It was Spain’s first-ever knockout win at a Women’s Euro after failed attempts in the 2013, 2017 and 2022 quarterfinals, and in the 1997 semifinals, which directly followed a group stage.
“We are very happy, and very happy to have reached the semifinals,” Athenea said after the final whistle. “The team gave it their all. The atmosphere was spectacular, and hopefully it can be repeated.
“The team created many chances but we didn’t convert them, we got a bit stuck, but in the end we managed to get the win.”
Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images
Spain looked to have made the perfect start when Mariona Caldentey was upended by a rash challenge by Nadine giantsbut having opted to take the spot-kick herself the forward rolled it wide of the post.
Pina had several chances for Spain but stout defending by the hosts saw them go in level at the break, much to the delight of the raucous crowd.
It took a moment of brilliance from Aitana Bonmatí to break the deadlock for the world champions in the 66th minute, teeing up Athenea with an instinctive backheel for the substitute to guide the ball past Swiss keeper Livia Peng.
Five minutes later, Pina doubled her side’s advantage as Switzerland captain Lia Wälti was dispossessed just outside her own penalty area, and Pina curled a superb shot into the top corner before wheeling away in celebration.
The drama continued right to the end, with Spain’s Alexia Putellas missing a late penalty and Switzerland’s Noelle Maritz shown a straight red card for a stoppage-time challenge.
Spain are the first team to miss two penalties in a Women’s Euro game since Norway against Germany in 2013.
As the Spaniards danced in a circle to celebrate advancing to the last four, the Swiss fans sang loudly in appreciation of the team, and the players bounced together in unison as the hosts exited the tournament with their heads held high having made the knockout stages for the first time.
After losing 1-0 to Germany in the bronze medal game at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Athenea said her team had some unfinished business with the Germans, who face France in the last quarterfinal in Basel on Saturday.
“They are two great teams. Maybe we’d prefer to face Germany again because of what happened at the Olympics, but whoever we play, we’ll give it our all,” she said.
Information from Reuters, The Associated Press and ESPN Research was used in this report.
