While you slept: Sweden win stoppage time to beat Belgium at Euro 2022, England beat South Africa by 118 runs, West Ham agree £30.5m fee with Sassuolo for Gianluca Scamacca
Linda Sembrant’s last-gasp winner sent Sweden into the semi-finals against England after a dominant performance against a brave Belgian side.
Belgium, playing in their first ever quarter-final, were under huge pressure from the start and had goalkeeper Nicky Evrard to thank as early as the sixth minute. The 27-year-old read the escape of Filippa Angeldal’s swinging strike from 20 meters excellently and pushed it out for a corner.
Soon after, Evrard was pressed into action again and made a smart reaction stop to deny Amanda Ilestedt’s powerful header. Angeldal, Sweden’s two-goal hero against Portugal, was at the center of the attacking play when the Blue Yellows peppered Belgium’s goal in the first half.
The second half continued in much the same vein, with Fridolina Rolfo’s instinctive volley the last to be collected by Evrard. Sweden couldn’t keep up the attacking pressure, and Angeldal took a dipping effort from distance just after the hour mark that dipped just over the bar.
Time appeared to be running out for Sweden to avoid another 30 minutes, but the fastball specialists eventually broke down Belgium’s backline. A deep corner from the left caused problems, with Nathalie Bjorn denied by Evrard before Sembrant was perfectly positioned to scoop the rebound into the roof. Sembrant became Sweden’s oldest women’s EC scorer, 35 years and 68 days old.
Sweden meets England in the first semi-final in Sheffield on Tuesday 26 July. The winners of that match will be the nominal home team in the final on Sunday 31 July at Wembley.
Series at England level against South Africa
England thrashed South Africa emphatically by 118 runs to level the three-match ODI series 1-1.
After being put in to bat first in a rain-limited match, England were bowled out for 201 runs in 28.1 overs. Jason Roy (14), Johnny Bairstow (28), Liam Livingstone (38), Sam Curran (35) and David Willey (21) all lost their wickets immediately after hitting a boundary. England continued to lose wickets at regular intervals, but their batsmen kept the scoreboard at a good pace.
For South Africa, Dwaine Pretorius (4/36) was the pick of the bowlers. Anrich Nortje (2/53) and Tabraiz Shamsi (2/39) chipped in with two wickets each.
In reply, South Africa fell to six for four, and then 27 for five, and then scored 83 runs.
Reece Topley (2/17) set the tone for England by removing Janeman Malan and last match centurion Rassie van der Dussen on ducks. Aiden Markram also departed without scoring. Adil Rashid (3/29) and Moeen Ali (2/22) tore through the Proteas middle order.
Sam Curran was named player of the match for his all-round performance.
The third and final ODI will be played in Leeds on Sunday.
Scamacca goes to West Ham
West Ham have agreed terms with Sassuolo striker Gianluca Scamacca.
West Ham are close to signing Gianluca Scamacca after agreeing a £30.5m fee with Sassuolo for the Italian striker. Scamacca scored 16 goals in 36 Serie A games for Sassuolo last season and has seven caps for his country.
West Ham also remain interested in Chelsea striker Armando Broja and dialogue between the clubs is open.
Meanwhile, West Ham have missed out on signing Jesse Lingard on a free transfer after he joined Nottingham Forest on a one-year deal.
West Ham had made a proposal to sign Lingard and were happy with the offer they put forward, but the 29-year-old has decided to join the newly promoted side.
West Ham have made three signings so far this summer with the arrivals of defender Nayef Aguerd, who joined from Rennes for £30m, and goalkeeper Alphonse Areola for £7.75m from Paris Saint-Germain following his successful loan spell last season and midfielder Flynn Downes from Swansea City for an undisclosed fee.