Spain's Women's Soccer team triumphs amidst scandal: Victorious return in match against Sweden

Posted : 23 September 2023

Spain's women's soccer team marked their return to the field with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Sweden in Gothenburg. This match was Spain's first since winning the Women's World Cup in Australia.

However, the celebratory mood following their World Cup triumph was marred by a sexism scandal involving former Spanish soccer federation president Luis Rubiales, who kissed player Jenni Hermoso on the lips without her consent during the World Cup awards ceremony.

The fallout from the scandal remained in the global news spotlight, with intense negotiations between the players, federation, and government mediators taking place right up to the eve of the match. The players believed that this agreement would lead to substantial reforms within the beleaguered federation and mark a significant step forward in the fight for gender equality in soccer.

Despite the distractions and pressure, Spain displayed resilience throughout the match, coming from behind to secure the victory with a penalty converted by Mariona Caldentey in the sixth minute of stoppage time. The win was met with jubilation from the Spanish players, who had faced difficult circumstances off the field but remained committed to representing their country.

The match saw captain Magdalena Eriksson opening the scoring for Sweden in the 23rd minute, followed by Athenea del Castillo equalizing for Spain in the 37th minute. Eva Navarro then put Spain ahead in the 77th minute, only for Lina Hurtig to level the score at 2-2 five minutes later. The dramatic penalty in added time, awarded for a foul by Amanda Ilestedt, sealed Spain's victory.

Before the game, players from both teams united in holding aloft a banner with the words "Se Acabo" (meaning "this is over" in Spanish) and "Our fight is the global fight." This slogan, initiated by player Alexia Putellas, has become a symbol of solidarity amid the scandal. Putellas, Spain's star player, captained the team in this match.

Spain, featuring seven starters from the World Cup final, will continue their journey as world champions with a match against Switzerland on Tuesday, their first home game since winning the World Cup.

Meanwhile, the scandal involving the kiss led to three national team players being summoned as witnesses in the investigation of Luis Rubiales. The Spanish federation also made personnel changes, including the firing of its integrity director, as part of the players' demands for reform after boycotting the national team in protest of Rubiales' actions.

Spain's Women's Soccer team triumphs amidst scandal: Victorious return in match against Sweden

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