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 0-0 Belgium
48 mins: Chance! Sweden have started quickly in the second half. Amanda Nilden flies down the left wing and tries to square it across to Kosovare Asllani. The pass is blocked but bounces kindly to Fridolina Rolfo who belts a shot straight into the arms of Nicky Evrard.
Second half: Sweden 0-0 Belgium
Kick off: It’s Belgium who get the match restarted. There’s no changes from either manager as play resumes. The Red Flames boot it long and Sweden get the ball under control.
Sweden 0-0 Belgium
Here’s a look at the disallowed goal. Onside or offside?
Sweden 0-0 Belgium
Stina Blackstenius thought she had scored the opener but the VAR call went against her. The game is still goalless at the break.
Half-time: Sweden 0-0 Belgium
45+1 mins: So the third quarter-final of the Women’s Euro 2022 heads into half-time with the teams on level terms.
Sweden will wonder how they aren’t in front, especially when they watch replays of the disallowed goal. The offside call was very close.
Belgium have been more reserved but on the few occasions that they got up the pitch they proved capable of threatening the Swedes.
Sweden 0-0 Belgium
42 mins: Sweden may need to get to the break and reset. They’ve thrown wave after wave at Belgium and only scored once but that was ruled out.
It’s properly pouring down now as well which makes it tricky to account for the bounce of the ball as it skips off the turf.
Sweden 0-0 Belgium
38 mins: Close! Tessa Wullaert has arguably been Belgium best player, she’s certainly been their biggest threat out on the left side. She receives the ball and carries it up to the penalty area before cutting inside onto her right foot.
Wullaert then lifts the ball over to the back post where Janice Cayman is arriving. Hedvig Lindahl decides to come out and punch the ball clear, taking it off the nose of Cayman to get it away.
Sweden 0-0 Belgium
35 mins: Davina Philtjens collects a yellow and will miss the semi-final if Belgium make it through.
The free kick is pumped long into the box. There’s a wild shot that hits a Swedish player who knocks the ball back towards goal. De Caigny is back to head it away but Blackstenius collects and fizzes over another cross that ends up crossing the byline.
Sweden 0-0 Belgium
32 mins: Chance! Belgium work the ball up the left side before playing it to the edge of the box for Tine De Caigny. She lays it off to Justine Vanhaevermaet who takes a touch to set herself before driving a shot wide of the far post.
It only just goes wide too. Sweden will need to be aware of that the next time Belgium have space near the box.
Sweden 0-0 Belgium
29 mins: Sweden have been the more aggressive team and that disallowed goal has just spurred them on. Nathalie Bjorn drives into the left side of the box and gives the ball to Fridolina Rolfo.
She carries on to the byline and looks for the cross but belts her effort straight out of play.
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