DLNews Sports:

On Sunday, Spain emerged victorious in the Women's World Cup, winning soccer's largest prize less than a year after experiencing a player rebellion. After Olga Carmona's left-foot shot in the 29th minute, La Roja secured their first significant international trophy. Although England goalkeeper Mary Earps saved Jenni Hermoso's penalty late in the second half, the Lionesses could not recover and score.

The match was close throughout, with both teams creating chances, but Spain was better on both sides of the pitch. The Spanish out-passed the Lionesses 303 to 178 and kept 64% possession. Jorge Vildas's team also held a 2-0 edge in big chances and a 5-2 lead in total shots. England forwards Alessia Russo, Ella Toone, and Lauren Hemp each sent their team's only two shots on target wide.

A spirited England came out attacking in the second half and had a few decent chances to narrow the gap, including a volley from Hemp that hit the bar in the 54th minute. But as the game entered its final 15 minutes, the pace began to wane, and the Lionesses looked slightly leggy. Earps saved a penalty attempt from Hermoso in the 69th, and then substitute Chloe Kelly and Hemp each sent their subsequent efforts on target over the crossbar.

Carmona was the catalyst for Spain's dominance, putting the ball in the bottom corner with a powerful left-foot shot from the edge of the box. It was her fourth goal in the tournament and her first in the final, making her the seventh player in history to score a goal in both a semifinal and a championship match.

The victory, which marked Spain's first major international trophy, made the nation the first European team to win the Women's World Cup since Germany in 2007. Spain's players congratulated each other afterward as a mass of red formed on the Stadium Australia turf, with a large group of Spain players holding hands. Despite the turmoil of a players' revolt that nearly led to a player boycott last year, the Spain squad seems to have worked out its differences and are closer than ever. Three of the 15 players who announced they were stepping away from the national team for personal reasons -- Ona Batlle, Aitana Bonmati, and Marion Caldentey -- reconciled with the federation and are at the final in Sydney. There has yet to be a word on whether the rest will rejoin.