Sweden wanted an harm time aim from centre-back Linda Sembrant so as to beat a cussed Belgium facet and attain the semi-finals of Euro 2022.
The Purple Flames put up one hell of a struggle and dug in deep to frustrate the match favourites, however had been undone on the dying and the Blagult will now face England within the final 4 subsequent week.
Belgium started brightly and with confidence, however the first probability went Sweden’s means when Filippa Angeldal’s 20-yard strike compelled Nicky Evrard right into a stretching save.
A mistake on the again by Laura Deloose allowed Angldal one other probability to attain, however this time her shot sailed narrowly over.
Sweden’s early stress continued when Amanda Ilestedt’s header was parried by Evrard, and Stina Blackstenius was unable to regulate the rebound from mere yards out and Belgium nearly cleared their traces.
Nathalie Bjorn was subsequent to fireside over after an Amanda Nilden nook fell kindly to her on the far publish, earlier than Sweden thought they’d taken the lead via Blackstenius moments later after Kosovare Asllani pierced the Belgian defence with a fragile via ball on the counter assault. Nevertheless, a prolonged VAR verify revealed that the Arsenal ahead was offside and the aim was chalked off.
Justine Vanhaevermaet lashed a shot huge on the different finish because the Purple Flames appeared to hit Sweden on the break, whereas Evrard needed to be alert to maintain Blackstenius out from point-blank vary once more following a harmful nook.
Simply after the half-time break, Evrard held her floor to carry a Fridolina Rolfo volley, and one other header from Ilestedt rattled the bar once more – although this time an offside flag was raised.
Sweden maintained their stress all through the second half however discovered it powerful breaking down Belgium’s deeper defensive unit.
Blackstenius was once more thwarted by Evrard when she punched away her header from simply yards out as soon as extra, whereas Belgium missed an enormous probability to go in entrance when Tine De Caigny did not advance in the direction of aim when solely confronted with Hedvig Lindahl.
Substitute Elena Dhont lashed a speculative shot into the facet netting as the sport opened up within the dying phases.
However Belgium hearts had been damaged as extra-time was looming when Sembrant poked dwelling following a scramble from a nook to arrange a mouthwatering conflict with England in Sheffield within the semi-finals.
GK: Hedvig Lindahl – 6/10 – Her distribution was wonderful, whereas she was hardly ever troubled.
RB: Amanda Ilestedt – 7/10 – Bought ahead with actual intent and was arguably extra threatening than Rytting Kaneryd.
CB: Linda Sembrant – 7/10 – Caught dawdling every now and then however not an excessive amount of. Scored a well-earned winner.
CB: Magdalena Eriksson – 7/10 – Largely strong on the again after an early scare.
LB: Amanda Nilden – 6/10 – Not as busy as Ilestedt at both finish.
CM: Filippa Angeldal – 7/10 – Regularly precipitated issues for Belgium within the last third.
CM: Kosovare Asllani – 9/10 – A genius. Typically created possibilities out of skinny air and danced her means throughout the pitch.
CM: Nathalie Bjorn – 6/10 – Wasn’t as industrious as her midfield companions.
RW: Johanna Rytting Kaneryd – 6/10 – Supported assaults however was scarcely the protagonist of them.
CF: Stina Blackstenius – 7/10 – A continuing menace for the Belgian backline. Unfortunate that her aim did not stand.
LW: Fridolina Rolfo – 7/10 – Performed a backseat function to Asllani’s runs ahead within the first half however was concerned rather more after the break.
SUB: Hanna Bennison (84′, CM for Angeldal) – 6/10
GK: Nicky Evrard – 9/10 – Routinely got here to the rescue for the Purple Flames. Exhausting to consider she’s solely a semi-professional participant and rents out bouncy castles in her spare time.
RB: Laura Deloose – 4/10 – Typically caught in possession and was lucky to not be immediately punished.
CB: Sari Kees – 6/10 – Tried to restrict Asllani and Angeldal to pictures from distance.
CB: Laura De Neve – 7/10 – A formidable efficiency from the Anderlecht defender, sweeping up and taking part in from the again.
LB: Davina Philtjens – 7/10 – Used her expertise properly to sluggish Sweden’s proper facet down. Would have been suspended for the semi-final after selecting up a reserving.
CM: Julie Biesmans – 5/10 – Booked for a cynical foul on Asllani. Grew into the sport after that however remained within the wars.
CM: Justine Vanhaevermaet – 7/10 – Fairly clearly has an imposing presence and that ought to have been utilised much more.
CM: Marie Minnaert – 5/10 – Carved out a few of Belgium’s greatest possibilities.
RW: Tine De Caigny – 4/10 – Offered little or no.
CF: Tessa Wullaert – 5/10 – Was usually remoted wherever she discovered herself in Belgium’s fluid assault however was a helpful point of interest.
LW: Janice Cayman – 4/10 – Ought to most likely have helped a bit extra going the opposite means. Ultimately was compelled to when shifted to right-back.
SUB: Elena Dhont (67′, RW for Deloose) – 6/10
SUB: Kassandra Missipo (88′, CM for Biesmans) – 5/10
