Encountering one another for the first-ever time in a competitive head-to-head fixture, the favourites to dethrone Canada as Olympic champions in Spain restored captain Irene Paredes, Aitana Bonmatí, Alexia Putellas, Mariona Caldentey and Salma Paralluelo after being rested, or partially given the afternoon off, in La Roja’s 2-0 victory over Brazil. 

Meanwhile, Colombia welcomed back star striker Mayra Ramírez after completing a two-match suspension following her red card against France in Las Cafeteras’ opening group-stage game. 

SPA: Coll; Batlle, Paredes, Aleixandri, Carmona; Guijarro; Bonmatí, Putellas; Paralluelo, Caldentey, del Castillo 

Colombia: Tapia; Arias, Carabalí, Arias, Vanegas; Restrepo, Usme; Paví, Santos, Caicedo; Ramírez 

Progressing through to the quarter-final stage after topping Group C, Spain went close to the game’s opening goal after only eight minutes as Colombian goalkeeper Katherine Tapia acrobatically redirected Salma Paralluelo’s fierce half-volley over the top of the crossbar. However, at the opposite end of the Groupama Stadium pitch would be where the deadlock was broken not long after, as the well-rested Ramírez perfectly timed her run against the offside trap before confidently firing the ball past Cata Coll. 

Manuela Paví was inches away from doubling her nation’s lead in the 20th minute as her cross-shot hit the foot of the post before Aitana Bonmatí uncustomarily spurned a glorious opportunity to bring the game level by firing straight at Tapia when everyone expected the defending Ballon d’Or winner to have found the back of the net. 

Colombia went on to worryingly lose an injury-struck Paví in added-on time at the end of the first half, as despite having numerous chances to get back on a level playing field, Spain were frustratingly forced to return to the dressing room with nothing to show for their forward-thinking endeavours. 

However, Spain were breached defensively again not long after the restart as Leicy Santos curled a delightful strike past Coll following after Linda Caicedo forced Coll to push the ball into the path of the fast-arriving strike-partner.

Needing a miraculous turn of events to salvage her participation in this year’s Olympic Games, Spain manager Montserrat Tomé called upon the attacking exploits of Jenni Hermoso and the recently arrived Alba Redondo – following Oihane Hernández’s tournament-ending injury – with the former firing millimetres over the bar from a way out. 

Following the loss of Paví, Colombia were further weakened in the final third as Caicedo needed two of Las Chicas Superpoderosas’ backroom staff to help her down the tunnel with what appeared to be a very problematic injury.

Ramírez would then be denied one of the goals of the tournament with Spain full out on the attack, as her solo run was ended by Coll. That miss came close to biting Colombia in the 79th minute, as co-captain Hermoso took advantage of Tapia fumbling an incoming cross by firing home through an array of defensive bodies. 

Heartbreakingly for Colombia, captain fantastic Irene Paredes came to Spain’s rescue in the seventh minute of 10, that were added on in the second half, by clinically making her way up the back to brilliantly fire Salma Paralluelo’s dangerous delivery into the area beyond Tapia, to force extra time. 

A goal-hungry Paredes again registered another shot on target in the first period of extra time, albeit a rather routine stop for Tapia, however, that turned out to be Spain’s only significant effort throughout the additional thirty minutes as a visibly worn-out Colombian side survived to force an intense round of knockout round penalties. 

Ultimately, Spain emerged victorious as Coll saved the first penalty of the shootout from Catalina Usme before Liana Salazar skied her spot-kick later on, allowing Bonmatí to set up to a semi-final encounter against France or Brazil. Meanwhile, injuries and exhaustion proved Colombia’s downfall, but Angelo Marsiglia’s side’s effort will surely have made an entire nation proud.