European Championship 2022: Sweden into the semi-finals after beating Belgium 1-0
LEIGH, England (AP) — Sweden broke down Belgium’s stubborn resistance with a goal in the second minute of stoppage time to win 1-0 on Friday and set up a semifinal against host England at the Women’s European Championship.
Linda Sembrant headed home a loose ball from inside the six-yard box following a corner after Belgium goalkeeper Nicky Evrard produced one of many botched saves on a rainy night at Leigh Sports Village.
Sembrant, a 35-year-old defender, only played due to a number of covid-related absences in the Swedish squad.
The dramatic winner came from Sweden’s 33rd shot in a one-sided quarter-final between Europe’s top-ranked team — ranked No. 2 in the world, behind the United States — and a Belgian side playing its first knockout game at a European Championship.
Belgium defended themselves strongly and several times got bodies in the way of Sweden’s shots. Once the ball reached Evrard, she stood firm and made seven saves – two from close range by Sweden striker Stina Blackstenius.
Evrard was also heavily involved in the goal. She cleared an in-swinging corner, raced across her line to keep out a shot by Nathalie Bjorn, only for the ball to bounce out to Sembrant. She could barely miss.
“We weren’t going to give up on this,” said Sweden defender Magdalena Eriksson. “We would keep pushing until the 94th minute.
“I felt the tears coming (after the goal) because I was so happy for us as a team. It was a frustrating night. I’m so proud of the girls for how hard we fought. It hasn’t been an easy week for us.”
Sweden joined England and Germany in the semi-finals. France or the Netherlands will complete the line-up for the last four on Saturday.
“It will be an extremely tough game for us,” Eriksson said of playing England, who beat Spain in the quarter-finals on Wednesday. “We really have to keep at it.”
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