French striker Melvine Malard scored the fastest goal of the 2022 Women’s Euros, but Les Bleues Monday’s 1-1 draw with Iceland after a second-half injury-time equalizer.
Iceland became the first team to be eliminated from the tournament despite remaining undefeated. After the 1-1 draws with Belgium and Italy earlier, Icelance maintained their chances of reaching the quarter-finals in the last leg, but Belgium’s 1-0 win over Italy secured them second place in Group D with 4 points.
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It took striker Melvine Malard 43 seconds to put France ahead with a low shot from the edge of the box, making it the fastest goal of the tournament this year so far.
Scoring eight goals at the tournament so far, France improved their best-ever goal tally in the Euro group stage by a single strike.
The French dominated the opening stages of a contested match in extreme heat, while England braced for the hottest temperatures on record this week.
But Iceland, who had been on the upswing as the first half began, nearly equalized after 11 minutes when Sveindis Jane Jonsdottir’s header hit the crossbar.
Berglind striker Thorvaldsdottir squandered another great opportunity just before half-time after receiving the ball from a corner but trying to go over the bar without being saved.
Iceland continued to give their all in the second half, when Agla midfielder Maria Albertsdottir and captain Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir also came close to scoring.
France of Corinne Diacre, one of the league’s favorites, then saw two goals ruled out by VAR.
First, it was Malard, who thought she had scored the second goal of the evening in the 68th minute, but was penalized for offside. Grace Geyoro scored 20 minutes later, but the goal was disallowed due to handball.
Iceland, who were awarded a penalty in the dying minutes, had a consolation goal in the 12th minute of injury time from Dagny Brynjarsdottir, making history by becoming the only team ever to be eliminated from the Euro even without lose once.
Iceland’s last breathless goal ended France’s 16-match winning streak, leaving them one more goal short of equaling their all-time record of 17 consecutive wins, set between August 2011 and May. July 7, 2012.
France, who got off to a dream start by beating Italy 5-1 and qualifying for the quarter-finals after a 2-1 win over Belgium, will face the Netherlands on Saturday.
Group D runners-up Belgium will meet Sweden on Friday.
