Women’s Euro 2025: Spain reaches knockouts, Portugal keeps campaign alive after drawing vs Italy

THUN: Striker Alexia Putellas scored twice for world champion Spain as it beat Belgium 6-2 in their Women’s Euros Group B clash on Monday, a result that guaranteed the Spaniards’ progress to the knockout stage after Portugal failed to beat Italy later in the day.

Spain took the lead through Putellas midway through the first half but was pegged back almost immediately thanks to a Justine Vanhaevermaet header from a corner. The Spaniards still went in ahead at the break, after captain Irene Paredes powered home a towering header of her own from a set piece.

Hannah Eurlings put Belgium level again five minutes into the second half, only for Esther Gonzalez to restore Spain’s lead two minutes later, and Mariona Caldentey made the most of Belgium’s failure to clear a corner, pouncing to make it 4-1 in the 61st minute.

A brilliant curled effort from Claudia Pina in the 81st minute effectively ended the contest, and Putellas netted her second four minutes from time to put Spain top of the group on six points and eliminate the Belgians, who lost their opening game against Italy 1-0.

A last-gasp equalizer by Portugal’s Diana Gomes against Italy in a thrilling 1-1 draw kept her country’s Women’s Euro campaign alive as her strike cancelled out a stunning second-half goal by Cristiana Girelli on Monday.

The draw spoiled Italy’s chance of clinching a berth in the knockout round on Monday, with Spain the only Group B team to have so far guaranteed a quarterfinal spot. Agencies

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