Spain down England to win Women's World Cup for first time

SYDNEY : Captain Olga Carmona scored the winner in the first half as Spain won the Women's World Cup for the first time by beating England 1-0 in front of 75,784 fans at Stadium Australia on Sunday.

La Roja, robbed of some of their best talent by a mutiny against coach Jorge Vilda only a few months ago and thrashed 4-0 by Japan in the group stage, outplayed England to deservedly claim their first major title in only their third World Cup.

Aitana Bonmati and Teresa Abelleira ran the game from the Spanish midfield and the margin of victory would have been greater had England goalkeeper Mary Earps not saved a second-half penalty from Jennifer Hermoso.

"It's the best feeling of my life," a tearful Hermoso said.

"We played the football we wanted to but I still think we are not aware of what we have achieved."

Vilda became only the second male coach to win a major women's tournament - the World Cup, the Olympics and the Euros - since 2000.

"What we did, it's difficult to achieve," he said. "Very proud of this team, we have shown we know how to play, that we know how to suffer, we have believed and we are world champions."

England's second defeat in 39 matches since Dutchwoman Sarina Wiegman took over as coach denied them the chance to add a maiden world title to the European Championship crown they won last year.

"It's really hard to take," said captain Millie Bright. "We gave everything, in the first half we weren’t at our best but in the second half we were back.

"There was a lot of belief, we have been 1-0 down, we never give in. We are absolutely heartbroken but unfortunately we weren't there today. The girls are unbelievable."

The first Women's World Cup final not to feature either the United States or Germany started at quite a