Teenager Salma Paralluelo scored the winner off the bench as the La Roja made their way into the semi-finals for the first time in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The 19-year-old Barcelona winger scored in extra-time in Wellington on Friday as Spain registered a 2-1 win over 2019 runners-up the Netherlands.
The former sprinter used her speed and smashed a left-footed shot that ricocheted off the post and went in.
"(Coach Jorge Vilda) told me to be sure that I was open for the passes, that I could be in the right spaces and to compete, compete as much as I could," said Paralluelo.
"I had that opportunity and I was lucky to score so I'm very happy."
Paralluelo, who was born in Zaragoza to a Spanish father and Equatorial Guinean mother, also notched up a hat-trick, in a 7-0 win over Argentina in a friendly, on her debut in November.
She had been one of Spain's best sprinters, taking part in the European indoor championships in the 400 metres in 2019, before giving up athletics to focus solely on football.
"The goal from Salma, it was sheer joy," said coach Jorge Vilda. "Salma is a player with enormous potential and she's not reached her best yet.
"She's a very young player who has been training one year in football specifically, and the best of Salma we'll see it in the future. Now she's excellent, but in the future it's going to be much, much more."
Spain will face Japan or Sweden, who will face off later today, on Tuesday for a place in the final.
It must be noted that Spanish football has gone through a tumultuous few months in the lead up to the tournament.
Fifteen players, including Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas, had told the Spanish federation back in September stating that they will pull out from the national team due to events that impacted their mental and physical health.
The accusations were levelled at Vilda but the coach was backed by the federation. Only six of the players made the squad for the World Cup.
"The federation and the president have always supported us, from the very first go," said Vilda.
"Right now, I'm very happy because we think of all the management that we've had to do, and obviously (the World Cup) is not over yet."