Portugal missed the move into the KO-phase of the European Women’s European Championship. The hopes of progress were great, but an early goal from Belgium crossed the match plan. The Iberians took a long time to find their way into play and did not take their chances until the final phase. It got really wild there.
The ball between Portugal and Belgium was in goal five times in the game between Portugal and Belgium, but the Var kept interrupted the jubilments. In the end, a 2-1 (1: 0) success for Belgium through an early goal by Tessa Wullaert (3rd) and a late goal by Janice Cayman (90.+6) stood in front of 7.515 spectators in the Stade de Tourbillon from Sion. In the meantime, Telma Encarnação had equalized (87th).
Belgium is celebrating a conciliatory conclusion to the European Championship, while Portugal could not use the submission of Spain and also has to pack the suitcase. The world champions had won 3-1 against Italy in the parallel game and thus paved their way for Portugal to the quarter -finals.
Portugal against Belgium: Experience against experiment
Before the game it was clear that only Portugal had a chance to get on. But there was a need to win, preferably with as many goals as possible. But also for Belgium it was more than just honor. After all, the Belgian association had made a change on the coaching bench to Elísabet Gunnarsdóttir at the beginning of the year, now it was about showing that this was not a wrong decision. The Icelander is the youngest trainer in the tournament, but the elderly to her counterpart to Francisco Neto. He has been in office since 2014.
Due to the objectives, there were almost no changes in the starting formations on both sides. Neto only had to replace his yellow-red captain Ana Borges. For her, Catarina Amado moved to the right outer track, the captain’s armband took over Carole Costa. At Belgium, Hannah Eurling, who switched to Union Berlin, had to take a seat on the bench, and Jassina Blom started in the dual leadership in her place.
Belgium starts furiously – Portugal is surprised
Belgium started the game with a lot of pace and brought the ball in front of the opposing goal for the first time after almost 50 seconds. Almost two minutes later, the Portuguese were surprised again. After a discount from the Belgian goalkeeper Lisa Lichtfus, Blom Jill Janssens sent on the right outer lane. The cross of the Hoffenheimer from a full run steered Belgium’s scorer Tessa Wullaert over the line in the grätschen. It was the 93rd goal of the former Wolfsburg woman in the dress of the Belgian national team.
Belgium’s players cheer a goal against Portugal.
For Portugal’s coach Neto it was a very bad start on his 44th birthday. And his team looked surprised and a little bit haphazard. The southern Europeans did not really find their way into play, but Belgium was able to open a lively combination game and came a few more in good final situations, but a big chance did not jump out.
Belgium shocked Belgium
Portugal worked only slowly into the game, and after 28 minutes he also had his first shot, which was accelerated at the goal. In this phase, the hardness in the game increased something. Diana Gomes collected the first yellow card of the game. Bitter for Belgium: Blom got stuck in the lawn after the not so bad thrust and twisted his knee. She couldn’t continue playing and had to be taken off with a stretcher. For her, Marie Detruyer came into the game.
Portugal now became more enthusiastic and had more space, but Belgium hardly came from his own half. Nevertheless, there was only another big chance. Ana Capeta was through shortly before the break whistle because Janice Cayman stopped past the ball. But the attempted lifter of the attacker of Sporting landed in the arms of Belgium’s keeper Lichtfus.
Belgium cheers until the Var comes
After the break, Belgium had the first half of the half through Mariam Toloba (47th), but subsequently Portugal held up the pressure again. But the gate just didn’t want to fall: Capeta failed due to Lichtfus (48th), Cayman saved with a great tackle against Kika (52nd). The eleven of Gunnarsdóttir, in turn, now tried quickly, one of them led to almost 2: 0, but Toloba shot from almost twelve meters over the goal (54th).
Ten minutes later, Belgium cheered because Toloba pushed the ball into the goal from ten meters after a flat pass from Wullaert. But the Var reported and had a possible foul checked in the formation. The Swedish impartial Tess Olofsson took the goal back.
Referee Tess Olofsson took a goal back after the Var had any objection.
Portugal can only be happy
Portugal continued to try to make the game, but somehow that didn’t want to jump out anymore. Instead, Belgium had another big opportunity: the Toloba, particularly noticeable in the second round, headed on the crossbeam (77th) after a high cross.
Shortly before the end of the game, the Neto team was allowed to cheer. After a dream pass from Kika, Telma Encarnação stood alone in front of the goal and pushed the ball into the mesh with the left. The VAR also reported here, but this time the goal was.
But it wasn’t the end point yet. In the second minute of stoppage time, the ball was back in the goal of Portugal. This was preceded by a capital error by Patricia Morais. But here too there was objection from the Var, this time an offside position was recognized. But Belgium still had an attack and hit the 2-1 (90.+6) by margin of close -distance dance. It was the end of a wild final phase and still gave Belgium a victory in this European Championship.