Soccer-Belgium end Portugal's quarter-final dreams with a 2-1 victory at Euro 2025
SION, Switzerland (Reuters) -Belgium's Tessa Wullaert and Janice Cayman struck in a dramatic 2-1 victory over Portugal in their final Group B game at Euro 2025 on Friday that extinguished the Portuguese team's dreams of advancing to their first European knockout round.
Belgium, who had already been eliminated from quarter-final contention before kick-off, finished third in Group B, while Portugal, who needed a win to advance, were fourth. Spain and Italy both went through after the Spaniards won their match 3-1.
Belgium had a dream start as Wullaert struck in the third minute after Jill Janssens raced down the right flank before slotting a low cross to the captain. Wullaert steered her shot into the far corner past goalkeeper Patricia Morais.
Telma Encarnacao bagged an equaliser in the 87th minute to breathe some hope into the Portuguese side, but Cayman sealed Belgium's victory with a 96th-minute goal when she pounced on a loose ball and fired home.
(Reporting by Lori Ewing in Oberentfelden, Switzerland; editing by Clare Fallon)
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