Sweden vs Belgium LIVE: Result and reaction as Sweden dramatically set up semi-final against England
Reaction as last-gasp Linda Sembrant goal books Sweden a semi-final against England on Tuesday
Defender Linda Sembrant fired a stoppage-time winner to give Sweden a 1-0 win over Belgium and set up a Euro 2022 semi-final against hosts England next Tuesday.
The Swedes kept Belgium pinned back for most of the first half and should have taken the lead when Stina Blackstenius slotted the ball home in the 25th minute. However, a VAR review showed that she was just offside when Kosovare Asllani passed her the ball and the goal was chalked off.
The second half was almost identical with the Swedes pouring forward and the Belgium defence standing resolute, and goalkeeper Nicky Evrard pulled off a brilliant reflex save to deny Blackstenius in the 73rd minute.
The game looked to be heading for extra time when the Swedes won a corner in the second minute of second-half stoppage time, and Sembrant reacted quickest to rifle the ball home to send the Swedes through to the last four.
Follow all the reaction from the Euro 2022 quarter-final as Sweden join England and Germany in the next round:
Sweden clinch last minute winner to sink Belgium and reach semi-finals
Sweden become the third team to reach the semi-finals of Euro 2022 joining England and Germany. They face the Lionesses on Tuesday night at Bramall.
The final quarter-final takes place tomorrow on BBC One. France take on the Netherlands with the winner facing Germany next Wednesday.
Sweden clinch last minute winner to sink Belgium and reach semi-finals
Belgium goalkeeper Nicky Evrard is named as the Player of the Match.
The UEFA Technical Observer said: “She made some important saves and gave her side a lot of confidence playing out from the back thanks to her excellent distribution.”
That award will be of little consolation though.
Sweden clinch last minute winner to sink Belgium and reach semi-finals
Your heart goes out for the Belgium players especially Nicky Evrard who was exceptional in goal. They defended so ferociously all night but conceded in the very last minute of the game.
It’s a heartbreaking way to get knocked out of the tournament.
Sweden clinch last minute winner to sink Belgium and reach semi-finals
Full-time: Sweden 1-0 Belgium
90+3 mins: There’s hardly time for a restart and Sweden are through!
They’ll face England at Bramall Lane on Tuesday for a place in the Euro 2022 final.
GOAL! Sweden 1-0 Belgium (90+2’, Sembrant)⚽️
90+2 mins: Sweden have done it! Asllani swings a corner kick into the box from the right side and puts it right into the six yard area. It bounces down to Amanda Ilestedt whose shot gets deflected into the path of Linda Sembrant.
The centre-back does no wrong and lifts it over the goalkeeper to smash it into the back of the net and put Sweden into the semi-finals!
Sweden 0-0 Belgium
90 mins: Three minutes of added time to play. Three minutes for someone to get a winner or else this is heading into extra-time.
Dhont fizzes a cross in from the right but puts it straight into the hands of Hedvig Lindahl.
Sweden 0-0 Belgium
88 mins: A goal for either side now would surely seal a spot in the semi-finals however the game does have the feel of a 0-0 after extra-time, let’s decide it with penalties.
Sweden very dominant but can’t score, Belgium compact and their goalkeeper is having a blinder.
Sweden 0-0 Belgium
85 mins: A deflected cross from Nilden drops for Rolfo who stops the ball dead then scuffs her left-footed shot well wide of goal.
Filippa Angeldal is taken off with Hanna Bennison replacing her.
Sweden 0-0 Belgium
82 mins: Chance! Belgium come as close as they have all night to scoring. A chipped pass from midfield sees Dhont sweep down the right side before drilling one at goal from just inside the penalty area.
She strikes it well but the ball just curves away and lands in the side-netting.
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