In a match that ebbed and flowed, Olga Carmone’s late strike was enough to secure passage into the showpiece following goals from Salma Parullelo and Rebecka Blomqvist, while City’s midfielder played the match’s entirety.
Regardless of the loss, Peter Gerhardsson’s side can be proud of their tournament in the southern hemisphere.
It was a tense start to proceedings at Eden Park with Jorge Vilda’s side enjoying most of the possession while their European counterparts stood firm defensively.
But the yellow wall was almost breeched inside 20 minutes when Olga Carmona received the ball on the left side of the box and drilled a shot across goal which narrowly flew past the post.
The Real Madrid full-back’s powerful effort sprung Sweden into action as they strengthened their backline to limit Spain’s chances during the first 45.
And their game plan almost worked to perfection on the cusp of half-time when they caught Spain playing out from the back as Nathalie Bjorn retrieved the ball on the edge of the area and found Fridolina Rolfo at the back post, but the Barceloan forward couldn’t get enough purchase on her effort.
After a goalless first half, the second period started in the same fashion with both teams cancelling the other out.
Just after the hour mark, though, Sweden pushed to break the deadlock and came close when Kosovare Asllani broke down the right and teed up Johanna Rytting Kaneryd whose whipped cross found Stina Blackstenius before the Arsenal forward’s tame shot was dealt with.
With the clock ticking down, the match spectacularly sprung into life despite the players from both sides looking visibly tired as extra-time loomed.
With 10 minutes remaining, Spain took the lead when Paralluelo showcased her poacher’s instinct inside the box when the ball broke to her to expertly drill home.
Undeterred from falling behind, Sweden remarkably equalised moments later when they produced a fine move which saw the ball sent deep into the box before it was nodded back to Rebecka Blomqvist who kept her composure to send it into the top corner.
Quite remarkably, though, it was Vilda’s team’s turn to immediately hit back and they regained the lead when Carmona collected the ball on the edge of the are and fired a powerful effort into the roof of the net.
Angeldahl’s side continued to push to find a leveller and keep their World Cup hopes alive, but they couldn’t find the goal they craved.
