体坛英语新闻：Host France roar into World Cup quarters, upset Brazil in extra time

LE HAVRE, France, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Host France survived a scare from Brazil here on Sunday and roared into the last 8 of FIFA Women's World Cup with a 2-1 win after extra time.

It was definitely the most difficult game for the Les Bleues since the opening of World Cup as they played out a 1-1 draw with Brazil in the regular time.

Captain Amandine Henry came out to score the winner in the extra time to lead France to the quarterfinals where they will meet either the United States or Spain on June 28.

Having collecting 6 points, Brazil just ranked third in Group C, while Les Bleues topped Group A with three straight wins.

Formiga, 41, was started in the midfield for Brazil, joining Thaisa and Marta. France's coach Corinne Diacre made only one change to her favourite starting line-up as Viviane Asseyi move in while Gaetane Thiney was benched.

France had the ball in the net after 23 minutes into the game but was disallowed after VAR review, with Valerie Gauvin adjudged to have headed the ball out of Barbara's hands.

Both sides haven't created many chances in the first half until the dying minutes when an angled drive from Brazil's Cristiane was denied before unmarked right-back Amel Majri of France saw her attempt blast over the bar.

It just took the hosts 7 minutes after the interval to break the deadlock. Kadidiatou Diani burst down the right and pulled back for Gauvin to slide in.

The Selecao almost found the leveler minutes later as Cristiane's powering header on Marta's cross rattled the crossbar.

Brazil kept piling on pressure and finally pulled the level back in the 64th minute as Debinha's cross from the left was only half-cleared by Wendie Renard. Thaisa followed to fire home with her left-shot.

The goal was initially disallowed for offside but VAR overturned that decision.

Tamires thought she helped Brazil take the lead on 86 minutes but that was correctly flagged offside.

After a dramatic regular time, the hosts dominated the first half of the extra time, yet Brazil created the best chance as Debinha surged into the box but her shot which beat French keeper Sarah Bouhaddi in a close range was cleared off the line by defender Griedge Mbock Bathy.

France restored the lead in the 107th minute when Majri swung in a free kick into the box, and Henry got in front of her marker to cushion a left-volley into the net.

Diani should have sealed the win in 114th minute but she dinked it over from a tight angle.

Brazil poured forward after that, but it was too late.

In an early fixture, England crushed Cameroon 3-0 to face Norway in the quarterfinals on June 27. Steph Houghton and Ellen White put England 2-0 up at the break, and Alex Greenwood swept home in the second half.