Putellas nets 2 as Spain trounce Belgium at Euros

Striker Alexia Putellas scored doubly for satellite champions Spain arsenic they shook disconnected a dilatory commencement to bushed Belgium 6-2 successful their Women's Euros Group B clash connected Monday, a effect that volition warrant the Spaniards' advancement to the knockout signifier if Portugal neglect to bushed Italy aboriginal successful the day.

On a chilly, windswept evening acold removed from the caller Swiss heatwave, Putellas blasted Spain into the lead, picking up the shot aft immoderate deft one-touch passing and lashing it into the nett successful the 22nd infinitesimal with a characteristically almighty left-foot shot.

The pb lasted lone a mates of minutes arsenic the Belgians went up the tract and won a corner, which Justine Vanhaevermaet headed location astatine the adjacent station but, contempt struggling to support a accordant rhythm, Spain inactive managed to instrumentality a pb into the interruption aft Irene Paredes scored with a towering header from a country successful the 39th minute.

Recently returned from a wellness scare, Aitana Bonmatí came connected for Vicky López astatine halftime and astir scored 4 minutes later, but alternatively Belgium levelled again successful the 50th infinitesimal with Hannah Eurlings moving connected to a agelong shot and slotting home.

The extremity was initially ruled retired for offside, but aft a lengthy VAR reappraisal Eurlings was recovered to person been onside erstwhile the shot was played.

Belgium's joyousness was short-lived arsenic Esther González restored Spain's pb a infinitesimal later, with Spain yet opening to amusement their class.

Mariona Caldentey's 4th extremity for Spain successful the 61st infinitesimal enactment them astatine easiness and they began to artifact with the Belgians, with a superb curled effort from Clàudia Pina successful the 81st infinitesimal efficaciously ending the contest.

There was inactive clip for Putellas to nett her 2nd extremity 4 minutes from clip to enactment Spain apical of the radical connected six points and permission the Belgians, who mislaid their opening crippled against Italy 1-0, connected the brink of elimination.

"I'm blessed due to the fact that the important happening is to win. We don't similar conceding goals. If you concede 2 goals, that's thing we request to correct," Spain skipper Paredes said. "We've been good, we struggled to find our rhythm, we were imprecise astatine the start. Once we got into the rhythm, we were astatine our best."

Despite the sluggish commencement and the concession of 2 goals, Spain manager Montserrat Tome was pleased with however her players managed to lick the problems posed by the Belgians, particularly the substitutes who were brought connected successful the 2nd half.

"We person a luxury of having truthful galore options, due to the fact that this allows america to make solutions depending connected the moment," she told reporters. "As for goals, I judge the enactment is precise high, we are generating chances, we are scoring goals which is precise good, this gives america confidence."

Tome said playmaker Bonmati had afloat recovered and could person started, but that the squad were going to instrumentality it dilatory with her.

"We indispensable beryllium diligent to spot the progression," Tome said. "According to the aesculapian squad she's fine, but we don't privation to hazard it. She's a cardinal player."