(Football news) France Women defeated Belgium 2-1 at the New York Stadium to progress into the quarter finals of Women’s Euro 2022. Les Bleus opened the scoring in the 6th minute when Kadidiatou Diani’s header went in at the back post but despite the dominance by France it was Belgium who managed to grab the equaliser in the 36th minute when Janice Cayman found the back of the net. However, France managed to score the winner in the 41st minute when Griedge Mbock Bathy nodded home in her first Euro 2022 appearance.

Belgium were forced to play with 10 players with a minute to go for full time when Amber Tysiak was shown a red card for her handball in the box but France’s Wendie Renard could not capitalise on the opportunity from the spot. After a five star performance against Italy, France began their match against Belgium in similar form with Renard’s header going narrowly wide from Clara Mateo’s cross in the third minute. However, their relentlessness paid off in the 6th minute when Sakina Karchaoui’s cross from the left flank was met with Kadidiatou Diani’s header to make it 1-0.

Belgium struggled to deal with Karchaoui throughout the match and provided another cross to Diani who could not find the net this time around. With France dominating the proceedings, few would have predicted that Belgium would find the equaliser against the run of play when Cayman scored past an onrushing Pauline Peyraud-Magnin. However, it was France who had the last laugh as they restored their lead just five minutes later when Mbock Bathy headed home Eve Perrisset’s cross from close range, securing a place in the quarter finals of the tournament. 

Also read: Euro 2022: Sweden beat Switzerland after Hanna Bennison scores late