Category: Football

Atletico Madrid, who finished third in the previous La Liga season, started this year’s campaign with a crushing win over Granada, which rocketed them straight to the top of the standings.

Granada, returned to La Liga this season, after securing first position in the Segunda División (second division) table last season on the very last match day of the season.

However, they failed to kick off their campaign from where they left last season, as Atletico Madrid handed them a hefty defeat in their first game.

Atletico Madrid started the game with an early attempt in the fifth minute by Álvaro Morata but it was saved in the centre of the goal.

Morata, however, did not slow down and netted the first goal in the extra time of the first half.

The second half saw Granada challenge Atletico’s defence and earned the reward as Samu Omorodion scored an equalizer in the 62nd minute.

But Atletico’s Memphis Depay, who came in for Morata, quickly pulled Granada back with a brilliant goal in the 67th minute to give his team the match-winning advantage.

The 2-1 lead for Atletico remained intact until the 90th minute, but Marcos Llorente bettered it with a late goal in the final minutes of extra time to thump Granada 3-1.

In another game of La Liga, Cadiz scripted history, as they won their first home game in La Liga in 46 years, with a 1-0 victory over Alves at the Estadio Nuevo Mirandilla.

They started the game with an early lead with Federico San Emeterio scoring in the seventh minute.

Jon Guridi and Luis Rioja made continuous efforts for Alves, but they could not capitalize due to the rock-solid defence of Cadiz.

Cadiz will face last year’s champions Barcelona on August 20, while Table toppers Atletico Madrid will face Real Betis in their next La Liga clash on August 21.

READ: Neymar ‘in negotiations’ over Saudi move as Mbappe returns to PSG good books

Neymar was “in negotiations” on Sunday to become the latest football superstar to decamp for Saudi Arabia, leaving Paris Saint-Germain just as Kylian Mbappe was brought back in from the cold by the French champions.

A source close to PSG told AFP that 31-year-old Neymar “no longer figures in the club or manager’s plans” with the Brazilian immediately linked to Al-Hilal in the Gulf kingdom.

Another source in Saudi Arabia said that “direct negotiations” between Neymar’s agents and the Public Investment Fund (PIF) were ongoing.

“If we reach an agreement with him in the coming hours, we would start negotiating with PSG immediately. He would play for Al-Hilal if a deal is sealed,” said the source.

Neymar joined PSG for a record 220 million euros ($241m) from Barcelona in 2017. Some media reports on Sunday claimed that Al-Hilal would offer in the region $80 million for the Brazilian.

Last month Al-Hilal made a 300-million-euro bid for Kylian Mbappe, though the striker reportedly refused to meet with officials from the team.

Neymar underwent surgery on his right ankle in early March, only returning to join PSG on their pre-season tour of Asia.

His time at PSG has been blighted by a catalogue of injuries.

Although he helped the club to the 2020 Champions League final he has often been sidelined for key games.

If Neymar does end up moving to Saudi Arabia he will join a growing list of top players lured to the oil-rich kingdom since Cristiano Ronaldo moved to Al-Nassr in January.

Al-Hilal have traditionally been one of Saudi Arabia’s top clubs and have been crowned Asian Champions League winners on four occasions.

They are coached by Portugal’s Jorge Jesus, who is in his second spell at the club, while the squad currently boasts four international players recently lured from Europe — Ruben Neves, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Kalidou Koulibaly and Neymar’s Brazilian compatriot Malcom.

Neymar’s anticipated departure from PSG would follow that of Lionel Messi who now plays for Inter Miami in the United States.

In a sign of the growing impact of the Saudis in world football, Roberto Mancini was reported Sunday to be the man lined up to become the manager of the country’s national team after his shock resignation from European champions Italy.

It has been a rocky build-up to the new Ligue 1 season for champions PSG with both Mbappe and Neymar left out of new coach Luis Enrique’s team for Saturday’s underwhelming opening goalless draw against Lorient.

After being sidelined for several weeks amid an ongoing contract dispute Kylian Mbappe watched from the Parc des Princes stands.

But the club’s prize asset is now back in the fold, for the time being at least, said PSG on Sunday.

“After very constructive and positive discussions between Paris Saint-Germain and Kylian Mbappe before the PSG-Lorient match, the player was reinstated in first team training this morning,” PSG said in a statement.

After a summer of flux at the Parc des Princes filled with new arrivals, doubts over Neymar’s future and Messi’s departure, it is the Kylian Mbappe stand-off that dominated the headlines.

The France captain has refused to sign an extension to his PSG deal, meaning he can leave for free next year, with Real Madrid long seen as his preferred destination.

Qatari-owned PSG want to sell him now and bring in a significant transfer fee for a player who cost 180 million euros from Monaco in 2017.

“The position is very clear. If Kylian wants to stay, he must sign a new contract. We can’t let the best player in the world today leave for free. It’s impossible,” PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi said last month.

Kylian Mbappe had not been allowed to train with the first team and played only one of PSG’s five warm-up games and was not invited to the pre-season tour in Japan and South Korea.

He sat alongside fellow 2018 World Cup winner Ousmane Dembele, who completed his transfer from Barcelona earlier Saturday, as Luis Enrique handed debuts to six players against Lorient.

READ: Barcelona start La Liga title defence with ill-tempered Getafe stalemate

Reigning La Liga champions Barcelona kicked off their title defence with a frustrating 0-0 draw against Getafe on Sunday, with both sides reduced to 10 men in a bad-tempered clash.

Barcelona’s winger Rapinha was sent off the field for a foul elbow tackle in the first half while Getafe’s Jaime Mata was dismissed for two yellow cards early in the second.

In addition to that, Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez was also sent out for touchline squabbles as his side pushed for a late winner but, like last season, began their La Liga campaign goalless.

Xavi handed debuts to their recent summer signings — Ilkay Gundogan and Oriol Romeu — in Barcelona’s one of the most uncomfortable away trips of the season.

The Catalans had failed to score in their last three visits to the Coliseum Alfonso Perez and Getafe got in Barcelona’s faces right away.

Damin Suarez barged former Manchester City midfielder Gundogan in the chest among other four tackles.

Raphinha, who was targeted on multiple occasions, eventually snapped, flinging an elbow into Gaston Alvarez’s head, which resulted in him receiving a red card.

Barcelona failed to make a breakthrough and will have to play catch-up after rivals Real Madrid pulled ahead with a 2-0 win against Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.

In another La Liga fixture, Real Betis snatched a late win over Villarreal, courtesy of Willian Jose’s stoppage-time strike.

Ayoze Perez put the visitors ahead after fine work by Luis Henrique, but Jorge Cuenca pulled Villarreal level before Jose’s late winner.

Last Copa del Rey’s runners-up Osasuna won 2-0 at Celta Vigo, inflicting defeat on the Galicians in veteran manager Rafa Benitez’s first game at the helm.

The defending champions next face Cadiz on Sunday while their traditional rivals Real Madrid will take on Almeria a day earlier.

READ: Rayo Vallecano crush Almeria in La Liga opener as Valencia prevail

Real Madrid kicked off their La Liga campaign on a high as they handed Atheltic Bilbao a solid 2-0 defeat, in their opening game on Saturday.

Real Madrid started off the game strongly, as they gained an early advantage with a goal in the 28th minute thanks to Rodrygo, assisted by Dani Carvajal. A mere eight minutes later, Jude Bellingham scored his first goal for the club in his La Liga debut giving them a formidable lead of 2-0.

Notably, the 19-year-old English midfielder Bellingham joined Real Madrid this summer from Borussia Dortmund at a base transfer fee of €103 million.

A clean sheet for Andriy Lunin, who was standing in for the injured goal-keeper Thibaut Courtois kept Athletic Bilbao in their tracks as they failed to score, and Real Madrid’s 2-0 advantage remained intact until the final whistle.

In another La Liga fixture, Raíllo Arenas’s 70th-minute equalizer lifted Real Mallorca to hold Las Palmas for a 1-1 stalemate.

Las Palmas gained an early advantage after Jonathan Viera scored a goal off a penalty in the 29^th minute after Copete was given a yellow card.

Both teams made desperate efforts to fire in the tie-breaker but ultimately settled for a draw.

In another La Liga fixture, Real Sociedad were pulled back for a stalemate by Girona, courtesy of Artem Dovbyk’s second-half header.

Real Sociedad got off to a flying start, thanks to an early goal by Takefusa Kubo in the fifth minute.

Sociedad were flying high on their lead and appeared to be in a position to win their La Liga clash. However, Artem Dovbyk pulled them back with a brilliant header in the 72nd minute.

Sociedad made several attempts to gain a late advantage, but all in vain as the game ended in a 1-1 draw.

It is worth mentioning here that defending champions Barcelona will kick off their campaign against Getafe on Sunday.

READ: Rayo Vallecano crush Almeria in La Liga opener as Valencia prevail

French superstar Kylian Mbappe has been left out of Paris Saint-Germain’s season opener on Saturday deepening the stand-off between the France captain and the Ligue 1 champions.

As Mbappe’s contract dispute with the Qatari-backed club rumbles on PSG announced a new signing – Ousmane Dembele on a five-year deal from Barcelona.

He is the ninth summer arrival at a side which has lost Lionel Messi to Inter Miami, and may soon be facing up to life without Mbappe.

In an affair that has dominated transfer market headlines, Kylian Mbappe has refused to sign an extension to his PSG deal, meaning he can leave for free next year, with Real Madrid long seen as his preferred destination.

PSG want to sell him now and bring in a significant transfer fee for a player who cost 180 million euros ($198m) from Monaco in 2017.

“The position is very clear. If Kylian wants to stay, he must sign a new contract. We can’t let the best player in the world today leave for free. It’s impossible,” PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi said last month.

Kylian Mbappe has not been allowed train with the first team and played only one of PSG’s five warm-up games and was not invited to the pre-season tour in Japan and South Korea.

Despite his sidelining Mbappe was one of the first to welcome Dembele to the Parc des Princes.

“Welcome home my brother, so happy to see you here, the adventure begins,” Mbappe posted on social media to greet Dembele with whom he won the World Cup in 2018.

26-year-old Ousmane Dembele joined Barcelona in 2017 from Borussia Dortmund and extended his contract last year until 2024.

PSG took advantage of the player’s 50 million euros ($54 million) release clause to sign the former Rennes forward.

“I’m very happy to join Paris Saint-Germain and can’t wait to play in my new colours,” Dembele said in a PSG statement.

“I hope to continue to grow here and make all who love the club proud.”

Dembele, who has 37 caps for France and scored four goals, joins three other World Cup winners at PSG — Mbappe, Presnel Kimpembe and Lucas Hernandez.

He is the club’s ninth summer signing after defenders Milan Skriniar and Lucas Hernandez, midfielders Manuel Ugarte and Cher Ndour, forwards Marco Asensio, Lee Kang-in and Goncalo Ramos and goalkeeper Arnau Tenas.

At Barcelona, despite early problems adjusting to the Catalan side and injuries, Ousmane Dembele scored 40 goals in 185 matches, winning three league titles in 2018, 2019 and 2023 and two Spanish Cups 2018 and 2021.

PSG are bolstering their attacking options with the futures of Mbappe and also Neymar uncertain.

“The passion and determination shown by Ousmane when he joined PSG is fantastic and is the attitude required for all our players,” said Khelaifi.

“We are proud to have another French World Cup winner in Paris Saint-Germain at the moment to enter a new great era for our club.”

New PSG coach Luis Enrique also left out Brazilian Neymar from Saturday evening’s game with the forward suffering a “viral syndrome”.

The club are reported to be open to selling the former Barcelona star and Italian midfielder Marco Verratti, who has also not been called up against Lorient.

Enrique is expected to start three newcomers in attack – Lee, Portuguese Ramos and Spaniard Asensio.

READ: Australia beat France in penalty thriller to reach Women’s World Cup semi-finals

Co-hosts Australia beat France 7-6 in a thrilling penalty shoot-out to reach the semi-finals of the Women’s World Cup for the first time in their history on a night of drama in Brisbane on Saturday.

Australia now go to Sydney on Wednesday to face the winners of the final last-eight tie between England and Colombia.

Cortnee Vine scored the winning penalty to end a remarkable shoot-out that saw both teams take 10 spot-kicks, the third Women’s World Cup quarter-final having ended 0-0 after 120 nerve-shredding minutes.

Vine held her nerve to send the crowd into raptures and keep the Matildas’ dream of winning the World Cup on home soil alive.

Australia goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold had missed a chance to win the shoot-out when her kick hit the post but then saved twice from Kenza Dali after the VAR spotted she had both feet off her line the first time.

Vicki Becho missed France’s 10th penalty, and it was left to Vine to take Australia through by beating France’s substitute goalkeeper Solene Durand, who had been sent on, especially for the shoot-out.

“I’m so freaking proud about this team. The bravery that they showed tonight, unbelievable,” said Australia coach Tony Gustavsson.

“I think we’ll have maybe tonight to celebrate it and then tomorrow we’ll review it and move on to the next game,” added Arnold, the player of the match.

It was an agonising way for France to go out of the Women’s World Cup after a tense encounter watched by a sell-out crowd of 49,461.

Les Bleues had been hoping to get to the semi-finals for just the second time, following their defeat in the last four in 2011, but instead go home.

“We had a whole stadium and a nation against us. We produced an exceptional performance, but that’s football. It was destiny,” French coach Herve Renard told broadcaster France 2.

“Good luck to Australia. I think we deserved more but that’s how it is.”

Australia’s victory was achieved despite Sam Kerr again being left on the bench at kick-off, with the talismanic Matildas captain, now fit after a calf injury, coming on early in the second half and going on to convert her penalty in the shoot-out.

Gustavsson stuck with the same team that started against Denmark in the last 16, while France brought the fit-again Maelle Lakrar back into their defence.

Lakrar really should have given France an early lead to silence the hostile crowd, but the 23-year-old somehow succeeded in diverting a Eugenie Le Sommer shot over the bar with the goal gaping.

That was a let-off for the hosts, who were then grateful to Arnold for tipping a Le Sommer effort behind and for stopping a stinging Lakrar attempt following a corner.

It looked like the occasion was getting to Australia, but they began to threaten in the final minutes of the first half.

They were desperately unlucky not to go ahead in the 41st minute when French defensive hesitancy allowed Emily van Egmond to tee up Mary Fowler for what seemed like a certain goal, but Elisa De Almeida raced in to produce a miraculous block.

French goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin then had to come out to clear in front of Fowler, as it somehow remained goalless at the interval.

Kerr emerged 10 minutes into the second half, replacing Van Egmond to the delight of the crowd, and her introduction provided such a lift that Australia very nearly went ahead moments later.

Hayley Raso tried her luck with a rasping drive from outside the box, but Peyraud-Magnin saved and the Juventus goalkeeper topped that with a brilliant block to deny Fowler from point-blank range on the hour mark.

That appeared to pierce some of Australia’s momentum, and the tension increased as the clock ticked down, making extra time almost an inevitability.

France thought they had the breakthrough 10 minutes into the extra period when Ellie Carpenter turned the ball into her own net, but Australia were rescued when the Chilean referee blew for a foul.

Arnold saved superbly from Becho, before France replaced Peyraud-Magnin with Durand as penalties loomed.

Durand is their penalty-saving specialist and denied both Steph Catley and Clare Hunt in the shoot-out, but it was not enough for France.

READ: All former champions out as Sweden set up Spain World Cup semi-final

Home side Rayo Vallecano scripted a flying start to their La Liga 2023-24 campaign with a dominating 2-0 win over Almeria while Valencia edged Europa League champions Sevilla 2-1.

Valencia, who avoided being relegated by a mere two points in the previous La Liga season, started their campaign on a high against momentum-filled Sevilla and soon got their reward at the hour mark when thanks to Mouctar Diakhaby.

Guinea international defender Diakhaby produced an exceptional finish after good work by Portuguese teammate Andre Almeida.

Valencia’s lead however shortlived as Sevilla pulled one back nine minutes later, courtesy of Morocco’s forward Youssef En-Nesyri, who headed in at the far post from a well-calculated cross by Suso.

Valencia’s Javi Guerra then left the home crowd stunned when he fired an 88-minute match-winner, pounding on the brilliant opportunity set up by Hugo Duro.

Notably, home side Sevilla was a man down for the last 10 minutes of their fixture against Valencia after Frenchman Loic Bade was given a red card for shirt pulling.

Click to watch La Liga 2023-24 Live on ARY ZAP

In the La Liga 2023-24 curtain raiser, hosts Rayo Vallecano handed a 2-0 thrashing to Almeria.

Randy Nteka starred in scripting a perfect start to Rayo Vallecano’s campaign as he scored one goal and helped produce another.

Midfielder Isi Palazon opened the scoring for Rayo Vallecano in the 20th minute after Almeria defender Edgar González fouled Nteka in the area when the two were squabbling over a ball.

Nteka, who spent the second part of the previous La Liga season on loan at Elche, converted his second penalty kick eight minutes later after Almeria’s Sergio Akieme used his arm to stop a cross from him in the penalty area.

It is worth mentioning here that defending champions Barcelona will kick off their campaign against Getafe on Sunday while former champions Real Madrid will take on Athletic Club on Saturday.

READ: Ramiz, Wasim, Waqar named in Asia Cup 2023 commentary panel

A new name will be engraved on the Women’s World Cup after Sweden clung on to defeat the 2011 champions Japan 2-1 on Friday and set up a semi-final clash with Spain.

Spain needed extra time earlier to defeat the Netherlands, the 2019 runners-up, 2-1 to reach the last four for the first time in their history.

After the exits of Germany, Norway and holders the United States, Japan had been the last remaining former Women’s World Cup champions.

They refused to go out without a fight, Honoka Hayashi pulling a goal back three minutes from the end of normal time to set up a frantic finish in front of more than 43,000 at Auckland’s Eden Park.

Japan also missed a penalty and rattled the woodwork as the Swedes clung on for the second game in a row after holding off the USA and winning a penalty shootout in the last 16.

Sweden, the top-ranked side left standing at world number three, survived against Japan to reach the semi-finals for the third time in four Women’s World Cups.

They will stay at Eden Park to face Spain on Tuesday for a place in the final.

“I have been a coach for so many years now, I have had such incredibly skilled players,” said Sweden’s 63-year-old coach Peter Gerhardsson.

“They are very meticulous, always interested and they always give 100 percent, and during tournaments like this we become more like a club team.”

Sweden took the lead in the 32nd minute when Japan failed to clear and the ball fell to Amanda Ilestedt to stab home a scrappy opener, her fourth goal of the tournament.

Gerhardsson’s side made it 2-0 from a penalty soon after the break, converted by Manchester City’s Filippa Angeldal.

Japan were given a lifeline when they won a penalty of their own in the 76th minute.

Riko Ueki picked herself up after being fouled but smashed her spot-kick off the underside of the bar and headed the rebound over.

The woodwork rescued Sweden again in the 87th minute but seconds later Hayashi pounced, setting up a nerve-shredding stoppage time that lasted almost 11 minutes before Sweden could celebrate.

Spanish teenager Salma Paralluelo’s smart extra-time winner knocked out the Netherlands in Wellington after an incident-packed match ended normal time 1-1.

Spain, who have recovered from a 4-0 humbling by Japan in the group phase, dominated the first half and twice hit the woodwork in quick succession. They also had a goal ruled out for offside by VAR.

The Netherlands got a foothold in the second half and thought they had a chance to take the lead when Lineth Beerensteyn was fouled in the box, but the penalty was rescinded after a VAR review.

Spain went ahead from the spot with nine minutes left of normal time through Mariona Caldentey after Paralluelo’s cross struck Stefanie van der Gragt’s hand just inside the penalty box.

Defender Van der Gragt — playing for the last time before retirement — made amends in the first minute of stoppage time when she blasted inside the far post for 1-1.

The Netherlands had the better of extra time, but second-half substitute Paralluelo was the hero for Spain as she went down the left and lashed the ball hard and low into the bottom corner.

“It’s hard now,” said Van der Gragt.

“We had the chance in extra time and we didn’t score, they had one chance and they scored.

The other two Women’s World Cup quarter-finals are on Saturday, when co-hosts Australia play France in Brisbane and European champions England face Colombia in Sydney with the winners to meet on Wednesday.

Australia skipper and goalscoring great Sam Kerr will start against France if fully fit after a calf injury, coach Tony Gustavsson said Friday.

The Chelsea striker got her first minutes of action at the tournament as a late substitute in the 2-0 win over Denmark in the last 16.

“If Sam is fit to play 90 minutes, she is starting, it is not even a question, and the team knows that,” said Gustavsson.

READ: Spain hit extra-time winner to reach World Cup semi-finals for first time

KARACHI: ARY Digital Network has once again announced an exciting update for sports lovers in Pakistan as the La Liga season 2023-24 will be broadcasted live on Pakistan’s first HD sports channel A Sports HD and ARY ZAP.

After successfully broadcasting the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2022 and the previous edition of La Liga, A Sports HD and ARY ZAP will air the next edition of the Spanish league.

Notably, ARY Digital Network successfully secured the rights to the next two La Liga seasons in August last year.

Viewers in Pakistan can watch the event live on A Sports or stream it through the ARY ZAP application.

Administered by the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional, it is contested by 20 teams, with the three lowest-placed teams at the end of each season being relegated to the Segunda División and replaced by the top two teams and a play-off winner in that division.

La Liga has been the top league in Europe in each of the seven years from 2013 to 2019 (calculated using accumulated figures from five preceding seasons) and has led Europe for 22 of the 60 ranked years up to 2019, more than any other country.

La Liga Season 2023-24 will commence on August 12.

La Liga will embark with the home side Almeria taking on Rayo Vallecano in the curtain raiser at Power Horse Stadium on August 11. Whereas, Barcelona will be competing in the event to defend their title.

Known for promoting sports in the country, Mr Salman Iqbal- who also owns Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Karachi Kings- has the honour of launching Pakistan’s first HD sports channel A-Sports in October 2021.

A-Sports has previously aired ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 and 2022, PSL Season 2022 and 2023, major bilateral series of the Pakistan cricket team, Formula 1 Grand Prix Season 2022-23, SA20, Major League Cricket, FairBreak Invitational, Karachi Open Squash Championship among other major sports events.

Pakistan’s first HD Sports channel also airs the ongoing Lanka Premier League (LPL).

ARY ZAP, the popular app owned by ARY Digital Network, recently, live-streamed the five-match ODI and T20I series between Pakistan and New Zealand, earlier in April-May.

Teenager Salma Paralluelo scored an extra-time winner as Spain beat the Netherlands 2-1 to reach the Women’s World Cup semi-finals for the first time Friday and a clash with Japan or Sweden.

Over a tense 90 minutes in Wellington full of incident, Mariona Caldentey scored an 81st-minute penalty for Spain, only for Stefanie van der Gragt to equalise in added time.

With the quarter-final seemingly headed for penalties, the 19-year-old substitute Salma Paralluelo produced a brilliant solo finish in the 111th minute to put Spain into the last four.

They will now face Sweden or Japan in Auckland on Tuesday while the tournament is over for the Dutch, beaten finalists four years ago.

Barcelona forward Salma Paralluelo, who had started every previous game at the tournament, said she was determined to make an impact when coach Jorge Vilda introduced her from the bench in the 71st minute.

“It means everything to me. It was a unique moment, great euphoria to have lived through it and I’m extremely happy,” the teenager said.

Vilda predicted the former sprinter will blossom into a global star, having only made her Spanish senior debut nine months ago — when she scored a hat-trick against Argentina.

Salma Paralluelo scored twice in last year’s Under-20 Women’s World Cup final win over Japan, before going on to taste European Champions League glory two months ago with Barcelona.

“Salma is a player with enormous potential and she’s not reached her best,” Vilda said.

“Right now she is excellent, but in the future it’s going to be much, much more.”

Their maiden semi-final place was a reward for a display of controlled attacking football from the sixth-ranked La Roja, who have regained their swagger after crashing to a 4-0 group-stage loss to Japan.

The 90 minutes of normal time were largely dominated by Spain — and some VAR decisions — but it was the Netherlands who looked stronger in extra time, before Salma Paralluelo’s clinical left-footed finish on the break.

“We’ve always dreamed of something like this… but we’re not stopping here,” said Vilda, as his Spain side chase more history.

“We’ve reached somewhere we’ve never reached before.

“It was a match with a lot of emotions, VAR decisions. And the goal from Salma — it was sheer joy,” he added.

Spain dominated the first half and were denied by the woodwork twice when Alba Redondo’s header was parried onto the post by goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar and her follow-up also struck the post.

Spain captain Esther Gonzalez lashed a shot into the net but the striker was ruled offside by VAR.

The Netherlands got a foothold in the second half.

They looked set to go in front when Lineth Beerensteyn tumbled over in the box following contact with Irene Paredes, who was shown a yellow card and French referee Stephanie Frappert pointed to the spot.

But the decision was cancelled after VAR called for a review.

Spain went ahead from the spot with nine minutes left of normal time through Caldentey after Paralluelo’s cross struck Stefanie Van der Gragt’s flailing hand inside the penalty box.

Defender Van der Gragt, who is now set to retire aged 30, made amends in the first minute of stoppage time when her surging run was found by Victoria Pelova before blasting past Cata Coll in the Spain goal.

The Netherlands had the better chances in extra time, going close twice through Beerensteyn, before conceding the decisive goal as penalties loomed.

“It’s hard now,” said Van der Gragt, whose last game in football was an eventful one.

“We had the chance in extra time and we didn’t score, they had one chance and they scored. That’s football.”

READ: PM Shehbaz Sharif orders inquiry into PHF matters