Corduroy [UK]July 23 (ANI): An extension by Linda Sembrant helped Sweden set up a Euro 2022 semi-final tie with England after a 1-0 win over Belgium in the quarter-finals on Friday.
Sweden were heading into the match as favourites. The score reading in their favor doesn’t really capture the level of competition in the game and how close it was between both sides.
Sweden thought they had taken a first-half lead after Stina Blackstenius fired past goalkeeper Nicky Evrard, but after a VAR check she was ruled offside.
Sweden had better opening chances. Filippa Angeldahl almost scored in the sixth minute but a superb save from the goalkeeper followed. Angeldahl failed on another attempt from the corner. Evrard also stopped Amanda Ilestedt’s flicked corner at the near post and prevented Blackstenius from netting a rebound.
Belgium also had some chances in the first half, but could not convert them into goals. The first half was goalless.
The second half got off to an exciting start, when Illestedt sent a cross into the corner of the post, but up was the offside flag! Sweden almost took the lead in the 73rd minute. Free kick by Asllani was headed back over by Linda Sembrant, landed for Blackstenius, but her effort from inside the six-yard box was stopped by Evrard.
But despite all the hard work, Belgium’s defense was finally broken in extra time by Linda Sembrant, who hit a rebound from close range to send her team into the last four.
Sweden’s semi-final match against tournament hosts England will take place on Tuesday for a place in the Euro 2022 final at iconic Wembley Stadium on July 31.
Earlier on Thursday, Germany defeated Austria in a 2-0 victory to reach the semi-finals of the Women’s Euro 2022 at the Brentford Stadium.
Germany registered a victory over Austria with a rather dominant performance, giving the opposition team little possession. It was still a good matchup between both teams as Austria created a few chances for themselves, but failed to convert three shots on the post.
In the semifinals, Germany will lock horns with France or the Netherlands.
On Wednesday, England booked their place in the semi-finals of Euro 2022 by winning 2-1 against Spain. (ANI)
Source: sn.dk