Spain reach semifinals despite missing 2 penalties

Spain overcame missing 2 penalties to beat hosts Switzerland 2-0 successful Bern connected Friday to scope the Women's Euro semifinals for conscionable the 2nd clip successful their history.

Swiss absorption was breached by the satellite champions' 2 goals successful a five-minute spell midway done the 2nd half.

Forward Athenea del Castillo came disconnected the seat to unfastened the scoring and Clàudia Pina added a superb 2nd to unafraid a gathering with France oregon Germany successful Zurich connected Wednesday.

It was Spain's first-ever knockout triumph astatine a Women's Euro aft failed attempts successful the 2013, 2017 and 2022 quarterfinals, and successful the 1997 semifinals, which straight followed a radical stage.

"We are precise happy, and precise blessed to person reached the semifinals," Athenea said aft the last whistle. "The squad gave it their all. The ambiance was spectacular, and hopefully it tin beryllium repeated.

"The squad created galore chances but we didn't person them, we got a spot stuck, but successful the extremity we managed to get the win."

Spain looked to person made the cleanable commencement erstwhile Mariona Caldentey was upended by a rash situation by Nadine Riesen, but having opted to instrumentality the spot-kick herself the guardant rolled it wide of the post.

Pina had respective chances for Spain but stout defending by the hosts saw them spell successful level astatine the break, overmuch to the delight of the raucous crowd.

It took a infinitesimal of brilliance from Aitana Bonmatí to interruption the deadlock for the satellite champions successful the 66th minute, teeing up Athenea with an instinctive backheel for the substitute to usher the shot past Swiss keeper Livia Peng.

Five minutes later, Pina doubled her side's vantage arsenic Switzerland skipper Lia Wälti was dispossessed conscionable extracurricular her ain punishment area, and Pina curled a superb changeable into the apical country earlier wheeling distant successful celebration.

The play continued close to the end, with Spain's Alexia Putellas missing a precocious punishment and Switzerland's Noelle Maritz shown a consecutive reddish paper for a stoppage-time challenge.

Spain are the archetypal squad to miss 2 penalties successful a Women's Euro crippled since Norway against Germany successful 2013.

As the Spaniards danced successful a ellipse to observe advancing to the past four, the Swiss fans sang loudly successful appreciation of the team, and the players bounced unneurotic successful unison arsenic the hosts exited the tourney with their heads held precocious having made the knockout stages for the archetypal time.

After losing 1-0 to Germany successful the bronze medal crippled astatine the 2024 Paris Olympics, Athenea said her squad had immoderate unfinished concern with the Germans, who look France successful the past quarterfinal successful Basel connected Saturday.

"They are 2 large teams. Maybe we'd similar to look Germany again due to the fact that of what happened astatine the Olympics, but whoever we play, we'll springiness it our all," she said.

Information from Reuters, The Associated Press and ESPN Research was utilized successful this report.