Rotherham, England, July 24 (BUS): French defender Yves Perisset scored an extra-time penalty to win 1-0 over defending champions Netherlands and a place in the semi-finals of the European Women’s Championship for the first time as they face Germany.
France, whose last three participations in the Euros ended in the quarter-finals, desperately searched for an opportunity to get close to the Dutch goal, but executed a penalty from Berset in the 102nd minute to finally break the deadlock, Reuters reported.
The penalty was awarded by Corinne Diacre after Kadediatou Diani was brought down by defender Dominic Janssen and Perisset hit the corner of the net after Daphne van Domsellar was superb.
“All the players played their part and we saw how that worked,” Diacre said. “We would like to score earlier but we faced a great Dutch goalkeeper.”
France became the fourth country to reach the semi-finals of the Women’s European Championship, World Cup and Olympics after Germany, Norway and Sweden.
She will play eight-times European champions Germany on Wednesday after hosts England meet Sweden in the first semi-final on Tuesday.
France scored all their eight goals in the group stage before the end of the first half, but despite the Dutch being under great pressure, they were unable to score within 90 minutes.
The Dutch fired one shot on target throughout the match, even as historic scorer Vivien Miedema returned to the squad after missing two group stage matches due to COVID-19.
Keeper Heroes
The Dutch team led by Mark Parsons was also fortunate to have Van Domselaer, whose amazing save in extra time.
The 22-year-old made one international appearance before taking charge from injured Sari van Veenendaal in their opening 1-1 draw against Sweden.
Van Domselaer saved a low shot from Diane in the 15th minute as well as strong strikes from Charlotte Bilbult and Delphine Keskarin from outside the penalty area in the next five minutes.
“We gave it all,” Parsons said. “No player left with an ounce of energy.”
“The first half was very difficult, it wasn’t us but we scored 0-0 thanks to Daphne (van Domselaer) and others. The second half was much better, we really believed in extra time, but our bodies were tired. I couldn’t be more proud of this effort. “.
French Cascarino continued her pursuit of the first goal with a goal in the 27th minute, but her attempt hit the post.
Melvin Mallard then thought she had finally found France’s opening goal in the 37th minute, but Stephanie van der Gragt fired her shot on the line.
Well-positioned coach van der Gragt continued to block another shot from Grace Giroux, who tried her luck from close range four minutes later.
Giroud, who scored a hat-trick in the opening match of the French Championship against Italy, was unable to score again from close range three minutes from the end.
But France deserved to win and their last shot 33-9, with 11-1 on goal, showed their dominance.