Linda Sembrant’s dramatic stoppage-time winner earned Sweden a 1-0 victory over Belgium and the prospect to face England within the semi-finals of Euro 2022.
Stina Blackstenius was denied a objective by VAR halfway by way of the primary half and Sweden had been made to attend till the dying seconds to see off a valiant Belgian effort at Leigh Sports activities Village.
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Wave after wave of Sweden assault within the second interval had introduced no pleasure to that time, with goalkeeper Nicky Evrard proving to be their nemesis.
However heartbreak for the Crimson Flames got here within the second minute of stoppage time when Sembrant smashed dwelling to ship Sweden by way of to their ninth Euros semi-final.
Sweden had been the primary to make their mark on this quarter-final tie and nearly received off to a flyer when Filippa Angeldal’s effort from distance needed to be turned broad by Evrard within the sixth minute.
Sweden’s excessive press began to trigger issues for the Belgian defence and a few slack play exterior the realm gifted Angeldal one other likelihood earlier than her first-time effort sailed over the bar.
Belgium have known as upon Evrard a number of occasions throughout this event and he or she was available once more to maintain the scores stage when she parried Kosovare Asllani’s header to forestall what seemed to be a sure objective 14 minutes in.
Blackstenius thought she had scored her second objective of the event when she latched on to to Asllani’s by way of ball earlier than tucking dwelling, however a VAR intervention judged her to be offside by the smallest of margins, a lot to the aid of the Belgian devoted.
The Crimson Flames didn’t make any type of inroads into the Swedish defence, however their first actual sniff got here on the half-hour mark when Justine Vanhaevermaet dragged her shot harmlessly broad.
A nook late within the first half triggered a goalmouth scramble and Evrard did effectively to disclaim a mix of efforts from Blackstenius and Amanda Ilestedt, however the ladies in yellow had nothing to point out for his or her 45 minutes of dominance.
The second interval settled right into a sample very similar to the primary, as Sweden pushed to interrupt the impasse with early efforts from Fridolina Rolfo and Angeldal.
Belgium had by no means reached a serious event knockout stage earlier than and their cussed defence began to frustrate their opponents, as Evrard was once more available to cease a close-range header from Blackstenius from bulging the online.
Belgium’s resistance was lastly damaged within the closing moments when Sembrant rifled in an effort from shut vary following a interval of pinball contained in the field after a nook triggered chaos.
