England endured a miserable night in Leuven, with the defender Alex Greenwood taken off on a stretcher after suffering a head injury and progression from their Nations League group, and Olympic qualification for Great Britain, taken out of their hands by a late penalty that condemned them to defeat.
A tumultuous first half had ended 2-2, but England’s inability to find a winner in the second, before conceding an 84th-minute penalty, displayed the struggles of a team failing to recreate the results that led them to a World Cup final in August. The defeat leaves them third in group A1 of the Uefa Nations League.
They must beat Holland and Scotland in December, and hope Belgium drop points in their remaining two fixtures, to have a chance of winning the group and securing Great Britain’s place at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Earps fails to save Wullaert’s 85th-minute penalty, which sealed victory for the hosts
FREDERIC SCHEIDEMANN/GETTY IMAGES
England started brightly but they have been missing some of the attacking spark that helped them to register big scorelines earlier in the year and Belgium punished them.
Chloe Kelly felt she was fouled and went down over the ball on the edge of her own area, but the referee awarded Belgium a free kick.
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Mary Earps lined up a five-player wall, but Laura De Neve, the centre back, curled the ball over three of the England players who did not jump, leaving the goalkeeper unsighted and helpless, watching the ball fly into her net.
Kirby, right, smiles with Hemp having put England 2-1 ahead with a 44th-minute strike
RENE NIJHUIS/PA WIRE
England were then dealt another blow when Greenwood and Jassina Blom clashed heads. Greenwood required treatment from six paramedics and four England medical staff for 13 minutes, before being taken off on a stretcher, wearing a neck brace.
In an update during the second half England said that Greenwood was conscious, talking and being assessed by medical staff at the stadium.
Jess Carter replaced Greenwood, while Blom continued with a bandage around her head. England reacted well to the stoppage, resuming their onslaught on the Belgium goal, and Lucy Bronze headed home from a free kick to equalise.
England players look on in anguish while Greenwood receives medical attention
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A well-worked move by Lauren Hemp, who beat her marker before cutting back to Fran Kirby to slot into the bottom corner, gave England the lead and some breathing space.
It was Kirby’s first England start in 385 days, having spent much of this year sidelined with a knee issue that required surgery.
England were left to rue their missed chances as Belgium capitalised in 14 minutes of first-half stoppage time.
Bronze, centre, hugs Stanway after equalising in the 38th minute
NAOMI BAKER – THE FA/THE FA VIA GETTY IMAGES
Georgia Stanway’s pass found a space in the centre of midfield, instead of one of her team-mates, and Justine Vanhaevermaet laid on a through-ball for Tessa Wullaert to race between Carter and Millie Bright and slot in.
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Wullaert made an identical run in the second half, but Earps produced a crucial save to deny her.
The goalkeeper finished fifth in the Ballon d’Or vote on Monday evening but could not save England after Stanway’s late handball left Wullaert to coolly convert her second.
De Neve, No 18, celebrates with her team-mates after her 9th-minute goal at Den Dreef
HOLLANDSE HOOGTE/SHUTTERSTOCK
Belgium (3-5-2): N Evrard 6 — J Cayman 7, T De Caigny 7, L De Neve 8 (S Wijnants 41 6) — S Kees 6, J Vanhaevermaet 7, M Detruyer 6 (Y Daniels 74), K Missipo 7, L Deloose 6 — J Blom 7 (F Delacauw 74), T Wullaert 8 (J Janssens 89). Booked Detruyer, Missipo.
England (4-2-3-1): M Earps 7 — L Bronze 7, M Bright 6, A Greenwood 6 (J Carter 32 5), N Charles 6 — K Walsh 6, G Stanway 5 — L Hemp 8, F Kirby 8 (E Toone 68 6), C Kelly 6 — A Russo 6 (R Daly 68 6).
Referee : E Staubli (Sui).
Attendance : 7,235.
