England women beat Belgium to keep Olympic dream alive / Photo: Darren Staples - AFP
-
Mona Lisa scrubbed from Syrian textbooks as critics slam conservative drift
-
Flavio Bolsonaro: right-wing heir falls from presidential hopeful to exile
-
Bolsonaro flees Brazil for US after election defeat: AFP
-
UK budget lifts bank tax to offset surging energy bills
-
Brazil's Bolsonaros: between power, prison, and exile
-
Spain high-speed train collision kills 64, injures over 100
-
Israel president urges against new vote despite inconclusive result
-
Brazil's Bolsonaro lands in Florida after election defeat: AFP
-
Eala recovers to move into Tokyo quarter-finals
-
Russia woos African leaders at Moscow summit
-
COPs 'bunch of baloney' says Panama as it vies to host nature summit
-
Local ceasefire in Russia-occupied Ukrainian city holds for second day
-
Denmark mulls banning turbo chickens
-
Odegaard urges Arsenal to move on after Fleetwood upset
-
Nintendo producer 'all nervous' as Zelda classic remake hits shelves
-
Japan, Germany leaders target closer ties on critical minerals
-
Israeli Arab parties hold key as Netanyahu falls short of majority
-
Spain high-speed train collision kills 31, injures 80
-
UK comedian Brand tells rape trial 'consent is fundamental'
-
Turkey hosted Libya east-west reunification talks last week
-
Shadman guides Bangladesh to 213-3 in West Indies Test
-
Spain high-speed train collision kills 30
-
Tech optimism lifts stocks ahead of Fed update on rates
-
Plane reportedly carrying Brazil's Bolsonaro departs Ecuador
-
No penalty practice for Fleetwood hero Haughey before he downs Arsenal
-
Springboks pick six uncapped players for Nations Championship
-
Billionaire Ambani's Jio soars in market debut after India's biggest IPO
-
Israel's unassuming President Herzog holds keys to next government
-
Cross-border abductions threaten Kenya's status as dissident refuge
-
Real Madrid apologise to China over Mbappe comments
-
'Eat the rich': Indonesians protest against graft, wildfires
-
Three killed by storm in southern India
-
Netanyahu bloc leads as Israeli votes counted, but no majority
-
China says takes Mbappe apology 'seriously' after Mao remark
-
Cyclone eases after lashing India coast, no deaths reported
-
Flavio Bolsonaro on way to Ecuador from Argentina after fleeing Brazil
-
AI chip giant SK hynix posts seven-fold surge in quarterly operating profit
-
Netanyahu bloc leads after half of Israeli votes counted but no majority
-
Two hundred 'Cruise for life' passengers stranded in Cambodia
-
India vows action after first cheetah shot dead
-
Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren on the joys of filming 'MobLand'
-
'Now or Never': Ethiopia influencers push for Eritrea invasion
-
S.African activists push back on data centre rush
-
Mbappe furore rages on in China, but Mao comments censored
-
Judges set to rule on Australian mushroom killer's appeal
-
Billionaire Ambani's Jio jumps 21% in market debut after record India IPO
-
Syria reopens Jordan border crossing after mending ties
-
Rays win thriller to thwart Brewers in World Series
-
Cyclone Arnab lashes India coast, no deaths reported
-
Reigning champ Knicks earn first win against Pistons
England women beat Belgium to keep Olympic dream alive
Lauren Hemp's first-half strike was enough for England to beat Belgium 1-0 on Friday and boost their Nations League hopes and chances of qualifying for next year's Olympic Games.
Belgium had entered the contest as Nations League Group A1 leaders but sank to third by full-time as the Netherlands beat Scotland 4-0 to go top, while the Lionesses moved up to second.
The group winners will progress to the semi-finals with a place at the Paris 2024 Games the prize for the two finalists.
Hemp pounced after the Red Flames failed to clear a corner to score the only goal after just 13 minutes.
Thereafter, it was a tale of missed opportunities for Sarina Wiegman's women.
Alessia Russo twice missed big chances to double England's lead, but they held on to inflict Belgium's first loss in the group.
"We started the game really well, with a lot of pace and looked dangerous straight away," said Wiegman.
"Our tempo dropped in the second half and they then looked dangerous. It is just a lot easier when we score more and make it more comfortable."
The two sides meet again in Leuven on Tuesday and England can ill afford any slip-ups if they are to keep pace with the Dutch.
The Netherlands travel to Wembley in December in what could be the group decider before England finish their campaign with a trip to rivals Scotland.
M.Fischer--AMWN