Through to the Semis: Spain, Sweden in Women's World Cup top four after dramatic day

Spain and Sweden will now face off in the Semifinals in Auckland on Tuesday night.

Spain (left) and Sweden are through to the Women's World Cup Semifinals. Source: AAP

Sweden has blunted Japan's Women's World Cup charge and won through to another semi-final with a 2-1 victory in Auckland.

Earlier, Spain defied the Netherlands and a mercurial performance from Dutch player Stefanie van der Gragt to go through to their first-ever Women's World Cup Semifinal, with a 2-1 Quarterfinal win in Wellington.

Sweden and Spain will now face each other in the Semifinals in Auckland on Tuesday night.

All former winners have been knocked out of the tournament, which will see a new name carved onto the trophy after the final on Sunday 20 August.

Australia and France still have a Quarterfinal to play on Saturday, as do England and Colombia. The winners will then face each other in Sydney on Wednesday.

Japan v Sweden: How the match unfolded

Swedish defender Amanda Ilestedt was at it again, netting a first-half goal before Filippa Angeldal iced the victory with a second-half penalty.

After Riko Ueki's missed spot-kick Japan did score a consolation, with Honoka Hayashi racing onto a failed block with three minutes remaining.

That goal ended Sweden's run without conceding at 381 minutes.

However, after surviving 10 minutes of added time, the Europeans won the bigger prize: a semi-final against Spain back in Auckland on Tuesday night.

Until Friday night, world number 11 Japan looked a strong chance to repeat their 2011 glory, as the only side to have won all four of their matches in 90 minutes.

Instead, Sweden ended their campaign with a relentless press, harassing Japanese defenders into submission.

Nadeshiko couldn't manage a shot for the opening hour, by which time the Swedes had put the game to bed.

Until Friday night, world number 11 Japan looked a strong chance to repeat their 2011 glory, as the only side to have won all four of their matches in 90 minutes. Source: AAP, AP / Andrew Cornaga

Japan eventually came alive as Swedish legs - after 120 brutal minutes against the US in their round-of-16 clash - tired.

As Musovic called for treatment, play resumed and Japan finally took a chance with Hayashi scoring an easy goal when an attempted clearance stopped the ball dead just five metres from goal.

There would be no equaliser, meaning Sweden have now made the last four in three of the last four tournaments.

Spain defeats the Netherlands

During Spain's victory a contest of mighty momentum swings looked settled when Mariona Caldentey scored an 81st-minute penalty.

Salma Paralluelo of Spain celebrates after scoring a goal in extra time during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 Quarter Final soccer match between Spain and the Netherlands in Wellington, New Zealand. Source: AAP / Aaron Gillons

However, Van de Gragt, the catalyst for Spain's goal with a handball just centimetres inside the box, turned Dutch saviour, scoring a 91st-minute equaliser to force extra time.

After the Netherlands' Lineth Beerensteyn spurned a pair of superb chances at one end, 19-year-old Spanish sensation Salma Paralluelo raced up the pitch to settle it with a 111st-minute breakaway.

The all-Euro contest in New Zealand's capital was settled by two Spanish strikes off the inside of the post.

Spain scored their first goal from the penalty spot and had another chalked off by VAR. Source: AAP / Pro Shots Photo Agency

For the opening hour, Spain played the Netherlands off the park, including an opening-half shot count of 11-0: the first time in World Cup history the Dutch contested an entire 45 minutes without taking a shot.

Spain rattled off the chances from the fifth minute, when Esther Gonzalez played a one-two with Jenni Hermoso before dinking an effort across goal.

Alba Redondo hit the post twice after receiving Hermoso's flighted pass; first heading onto the frame, and striking the woodwork again after sticking out a boot at the rebound while on the ground.

Spain had an effort chalked off when Redondo met a cross poorly, inadvertently volleying to Gonzalez who tapped in from an offside position.

The Spaniards picked up where they left off after the break, with Gonzalez curling centimetres wide within 30 seconds of the restart.

Then came the sliding-doors moments of two second-half penalties - one withdrawn and one given.

When substitute Lynn Wilms played Beerensteyn through and the Dutch forward collapsed under pressure from Irene Paredes, referee Stéphanie Frappert awarded a Dutch spot kick.

Central defender Van de Gragt's involvement in the two regular-time goals was all the more dramatic given she had signalled her intent to retire at the tournament's end.

In extra time, 19-year-old substitute Paralluelo - a former sprinter - provided the decisive act, showing composure beyond her years to slot the ball home.