England booked a World Cup quarter-final date with Norway after an eventful 3-0 win over Cameroon, who struggled to keep their heads after a number of VAR decisions.
Skipper Steph Houghton, Ellen White and Alex Greenwood scored the goals that only tell half the story of the game, as Cameroon’s players and coaches were left fuming by decisions made by VAR.
All three of the contested decisions were correct though, including the indirect free kick given to England just six yards out, converted expertly by Houghton in the 14th minute.
The free-kick was awarded when Augustine Ejangue intercepted Ellen White's cross and goalkeeper Annette Ngo Ndom picked the ball up.
Duggan subsequently rolled it back from the edge of the six-yard box to Steph Houghton and the captain fired in.
Ellen White then fired in on the stroke of half time only for the offside flag to be raised, but the VAR replay showed that she was well onside and the goal was given.
Cameroon’s players reacted remarkably to seeing the replay on the big screen inside the stadium, and the re-start was delayed for several minutes as they remonstrated with the referee on the field.
It looked as one stage as if they would refuse to play but Cameroon emerged for the second half, only for their mood to worsen as Ajara Nchout slammed in a reply but then see the dreaded VAR intervene once again.
Gabrielle Onguene was adjudged to be just offside in the build-up to Nchout’s strike, a decision which left the goal scorer close to tears and coach Alain Djeufma flabbergasted on the sidelines.
England had another let-off shortly after as a poor back pass from Greenwood set up substitute Alexandra Takounda Engolo, but goalkeeper Karen Bardsley came to their rescue.
Greenwood then settled the tie by slotting home a well-worked corner from Toni Duggan for 3-0 just before the hour mark as England could start thinking about their date with Norway in the next round.
There was still time for referee Qin Liang to make another VAR check following a Ysis Sonkeng challenge on Fran Kirby, with no penalty being given.
Skipper Hougton was also caught with a late tackle in the closing minutes that could well have been a red card, but only saw a yellow brandished.
Having come through a test that also saw them receive some rough treatment and Duggan being spat on, England will now face Norway on Thursday in Le Havre for a place in the semi-finals.
Hosts scrape past Brazil
Captain Amandine Henry steered hosts France into the quarter-finals alongside England with the extra-time winner in a 2-1 victory over Brazil.
After Thaisa had cancelled out Valerie Gauvin's 52nd-minute opener just after the hour mark, Henry settled a tense tie at Stade Oceane in Le Havre in the first minute of the second period of extra time.
The Lyon midfielder stole in front of covering defender Monica to sidefoot home from Amel Majri's beautifully weighted right-wing free-kick to set up a last-eight clash with Spain or three-times champions the United States.
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