Spain advance to semi-finals of Women’s World Cup by beating Netherlands 2-1 in extra time after VAR review controversially rules out Dutch penalty

Spain advanced to the semi-finals of the Women’s World Cup for the first time in history by beating the Netherlands 2-1 in extra time in a game in which a crucial penalty was taken away from the Orange squad.

Earlier in the game, the Netherlands were controversially denied a penalty after attacker Lineth Beerensteyn was fouled in the penalty area by Spain’s Irene Paredes.

But after consultation with the VAR, referee Stephanie Frappart reversed the yellow card shown to Paredes and was not awarded a penalty.

Spain would score their first goal of the night courtesy of a handball into the box by Stefanie van der Gragt, leading to a penalty converted by Mariona Caldentey.

Van der Gragt redeemed himself with a fantastic shot from distance to tie the game: 1-1.

A VAR review controversially took away a penalty for Holland’s Lineth Beerensteyn (7)

A Spanish penalty kick converted by Mariona Caldentey in the 81st minute was rocketed in stoppage time by Dutch centre-back Stefanie van der Gragt to force extra time

In extra time, the teenage Paralluelo sent her country to its first-ever semi-final

In the second half of extra time, 19-year-old phenom Salma Paralluelo chipped off the left wing, faltered and then hit the net – watching her shot go off the keeper’s left post and bounce into the net to break the ball. stalemate and give Spain victory.

But that win for Spain was marred by the controversy surrounding the penalty that wasn’t – with the internet divided over whether or not it was right to overturn the referee’s initial decision.

Countless football commentators and fans took to Twitter to voice their thoughts on the decision.

“This should be a penalty and a red card,” said former US defenseman and FOX Sports pundit Alexi Lalas.

“I don’t know if there’s enough evidence to reverse this. Soft pen, but still a penalty. I think Spain got lucky here,” said the popular American football podcast “The Cooligans.”

Former American striker and Apple TV football voice Taylor Twellman simply tweeted a series of emojis conveying shock, then an eye roll followed by a clown face.

Others believed that the referee was right to overturn the initial decision.

“I’m really shocked (not really) how many people think this was a penalty,” one user wrote. Now I will say I don’t think it was a clear and obvious mistake by the VAR to intervene but looking at the game in a vacuum it wasn’t a penalty IMO and never would have been worth it must be.’

Another user said, “She reached out, so I understand.”

Live on the FOX Sports airwaves, color commentator and former U.S. women’s national team center fielder Aly Wagner said the referee made a poor call, saying Paredes shoved Beerensteyn from behind.

Internet discourse was divided over whether or not a fine should have been issued

The result is the end of the road for the Netherlands, who entered the tournament as the reigning World Cup runners-up and the ninth-best team in the world.

As for Spain, they have reached the semi-finals for the first time in their history.

The sixth-ranked team in the world defeated Costa Rica and Zambia in the group stage, before losing their final match to Japan. In the knockouts they thoroughly defeated Switzerland 5-1.

Spain will play the winner of the match between Japan and Sweden to decide who will make it to the Women’s World Cup final on August 20.