Claudia Pina scored a sublime double to settle the World Cup final rematch between Spain and England as La Roja came from behind to win 2-1 and knock the Lionesses out of the Nations League.
European champions England went into the game knowing they needed to win in Barcelona to finish first in League A Group 3 and progress to the finals.
They appeared on course to do just that when Alessia Russo fired them ahead in the 22nd minute.
But Barcelona star Pina came off the bench to turn things around, levelling on the hour mark before netting the winner in style 10 minutes later to book the world champions’ progression and condemn England to second in the group in their final competitive match before starting their Euros defence next month.
Spain v England
Spain looked certain to take the lead in the third minute, but Hannah Hampton denied Esther Gonzalez from close range with the kind of stop that will make Mary Earps’ shock retirement easier to swallow.
If Spain felt unfortunate after that chance went begging, they were left furious when Russo slid England ahead with a composed finish into the bottom-right corner.
Russo kept her cool to beat Cata Coll after latching on to Keira Walsh’s ball down the left flank, but only after Salma Paralluelo went down under a challenge from Niamh Charles, with the referee waving away appeals for a foul.
England continually threatened to do further damage with menacing runs in behind the Spain defence, but Gonzalez fired a warning shot at the other end when she fired narrowly over the crossbar just after the half-hour mark.
But the hosts failed to heed that warning as Spain continued to push for the leveller. Alexia Putellas shot just wide of the left-hand post on the turn before England were eventually punished by Pina.
This time Hampton was arguably at fault. England were unable to clear their lines from a left-wing delivery and Pina brought the ball down with impressive control before finding the far corner with a well-struck shot to which Hampton perhaps should have got a stronger hand.
Yet there was nothing Hampton could have done as Pina completed the turnaround with a stunning second.
Pina collected the ball just outside and bent a superb right-footed effort in off the post to leave England with a mountain to climb.
It was one they never looked like scaling, an ultimately deserved defeat giving Sarina Wiegman with plenty to ponder before England face France in their Euros opener on July 5.
