Ángel swoops to send Spain through

A thunderous strike from substitute Ángel Martínez in the second period of extra time gave UEFA European Under-17 Championship holders Spain a 2-1 victory against the Netherlands and a chance to avenge their final defeat by France in 2004.

Extra-time winner
Rodney Sneijder headed the Netherlands into a deserved lead in the first half, an advantage cancelled out by Pulido's cool finish six minutes after the restart. Both sides traded blows after the break but the game entered extra time and looked like going all the way to spot-kicks until substitute Ángel Martínez’s spectacular effort. Spain now meet France in the decider on Friday, four years after losing 2-1 to Les Mini-Bleus, and nine days after their superb 3-3 group stage draw in which the reigning champions equalised three times.

Tight opening
Given what was at stake, perhaps it was not surprising that the early stages were cagey, Sneijder's tame shot the only effort on target in the first 15 minutes. Spain were finding it difficult to play with any rhythm and the Netherlands almost broke the deadlock when Geoffrey Castillion's right-footed strike grazed the top of Alex's crossbar after 25 minutes.

Sneijder strike
But the Dutch did take the lead when Sneijder – brother of Real Madrid CF's Wesley – headed in six minutes before the break. Castillion slid in Jerson Cabral down the left and the forward's cross to the far post was headed in by the unmarked Sneijder, a lead which was nearly doubled seconds later when Castillion blasted into the side-netting.

Pulido pounces
Spain had scored all bar one of their goals in the second half of matches so far in Turkey and resumed after the break with renewed vigour. Coach Juan Santisteban's half-time briefing had the desired effect when, after the Netherlands failed to clear Carles' corner, Thiago's speculative hook back into the area was controlled by Pulido, who finished with aplomb via the underside of the crossbar on 46 minutes.

Late clearance
Both sides showed plenty of endeavour but created few chances as the semi-final drifted into extra time, a period which was nearing its end when Sielva's long-range shot flashed just wide of Zoet's goal. But with the second ten-minute period only seconds old Ángel Martínez, introduced before extra-time for Carles, produced a finish out of keeping with much of the game when his half-volley from the edge of the area flew into the top-right corner. There was more drama to come, though, as Rajiv van La Parra shot towards an open goal where Pulido somehow got across to turn it behind – an intervention every bit as important as the goal which preceded it.