Belgium vs England LIVE: Women’s Nations League result and reaction as Wullaert scores late winning penalty
Belgium 3-2 England: The Lionesses slump to defeat in Belgium and face uphill battle to reach Nations League semi-finals
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Your support makes all the difference.England suffered a big blow to their hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals of the Nations League as a brilliantly entertaining contest against Belgium was won by the hosts.
Too often in the match the Lionesses were caught on their heels and forced to scramble back in defence as the Belgians came forward on the counter-attack. A foul just outside the box set up Laura De Neve to whip home a fantastic free kick which put the home side ahead.
A collision between Jassina Blom and Alex Greenwood saw the England defender stretchered off the pitch after a long delay. England responded to the break better, they equalised off the head of Lucy Bronze before Fran Kirby slotted home a cool finish to get them in front.
Another counter was the Lionesses’ undoing though as Tessa Wullaert beat Mary Earps with a shot across the box before a late penalty, due to a handball from Georgia Stanway, decided proceedings as Wullaert earned her team a famous victory.
Relive the action from Belgium vs England below:
Half-time! Belgium 2-2 England
45+14 mins: Just the four goals in the first half.
Two for Belgium, two for England. This match has been a relentless and blistering affair and we’re only at the halfway stage. Will one of the teams go on to win it in the second half?
HT Belgium 2-2 England
There has not been an update on Alex Greenwood’s injury yet. She didn’t look in a good way when she was stretchered off the pitch and is no doubt undergoing tests to see how serious an injury she has picked up.
Fingers crossed she’s alright.
Alex Greenwood suffers head injury in England’s clash with Belgium
Alex Greenwood was carried off on a stretcher after being involved in a clash of heads during England’s Nations League match against Belgium in Leuven.
Defender Greenwood collided with Belgian forward Jassina Blom with around 20 minutes of the contest gone, leaving both players down on the turf.
Greenwood then received treatment on the field for about 10 minutes before being placed on a stretcher and taken off, with Jess Carter coming on as her replacement. Blom, donning a head bandage, was able to continue.
Alex Greenwood suffers head injury in England’s clash with Belgium
The Lionesses defender was substituted after 10 minutes’ treatment following a clash with opposing forward Jassina Blom.
Second half! Belgium 2-2 England
Tessa Wullaert gets the game back underway.
How will the teams approach the next 45 minutes? England will definitely go for the win but how easy will Belgium make it for them?
Belgium 2-2 England
47 mins: A crunching tackle from Kassandra Missipo sees Fran Kirby clattered to the floor and earns the Belgian a yellow card. England’s resultant free kick is once again taken by Chloe Kelly who delivers it into the penalty area.
Chance! The cross perfectly picks out Alessia Russo who can’t shift the ball from under her own feet. The initial chance goes begging but eventually Russo gets a shot away and is denied by Nick Evrard!
Belgium 2-2 England
50 mins: Belgium have had real trouble dealing with England’s set pieces. Kelly has repeatedly delivered the ball into dangerous areas with the Lionesses throwing players towards the ball.
They well against the next corner though and force England to retreat after clearing the initial cross.
Belgium 2-2 England
53 mins: What a save! Nicky Evrard take a bow.
England should go ahead after Alessia Russo flicks a fine pass into the box for Lucy Bronze. Bronze could shoot but instead knocks her volley back to Fran Kirby who pings an effort at goal.
Evrard, who had scurried across to block off Bronze, skirts back across goal and parries the ball with one hand. It bobbles into the air and bounces towards goal but the pace has been taken off the ball and it gets cleared off the goalline!
Wonderful stuff from the Belgium goalkeeper.
Belgium 2-2 England
56 mins: Laura Deloose has had a tough time of it this evening trying to keep Chloe Kelly and Lucy Bronze quiet.
Lauren Hemp has moved over to the right side of the pitch for the time being and tries her hand at getting past Deloose but isn’t successful.
The Belgian recovers the ball, holds it up and wins her side a free kick thanks to some fine defending.
Belgium 2-2 England
60 mins: Mary Earps to the rescue!
Tessa Wullaert sprints forward on the shoulder of Jess Carter as a through ball comes into the box. Carter goes to ground but doesn’t clear her lines.
Wullaert skips past a back-tracking Millie Bright then shoots only for a leaping Earps to palm the ball wide of the target!
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