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France crushes Italy 5-1 in Euro 2022 action, led by hat-tricking Geyoro

Sports Desk, Jul 10 (EFE).- France decisively emerged as the Group D favorite in UEFA Women’s Eurocup action on Sunday, crushing Italy 5-1 with all five of their goals coming before the intermission – an historic first for any Euro match – at New York Stadium in Rotherham, England.

The 25-year-old Grace Geyoro, making her 50th appearance for the French national team, was outstanding for Corinne Diacre’s squad, scoring three goals, two of them coming within five minutes of one another just before the break.

Spain, England and Germany have all launched their Euro 2022 campaigns with decisive wins, and now Les Bleues are on board the victory ship, with Geyoro starting the party just nine minutes into play.

Marie-Antoinette Katoto added a second French tally against the struggling and discombobulated Italians three minutes later and Delphine Cascarino got the team on the board for the third time with a great shot from distance at the 38-minute mark.

Then, it was Geyoro again – and yet again – in the 40th and 45th minutes.

With the match well in hand, the French slacked off and simply “maintained” for the balance of play, but Martina Piemonte was able to find the twine with a header in the 76th minute for a consolation goal that did but little to assuage the Italians’ wounded pride.

Italy’s Sara Gama received a red card after making a rather ill-considered challenge against Geyoro but VAR review nullified British referee Rebecca Welch’s decision.

Meanwhile, earlier on Sunday Belgium and Iceland battled to a 1-1 draw in their own Group D matchup.

Berglind Thorvaldsdottir missed a penalty kick for the Iceland squad in the 44th minute but hit the mark four minutes after play resumed after the break to give her team the lead at City Academy Stadium in Manchester, England.

Despite Iceland’s strong start, Belgium didn’t fold and managed to fire a telling shot-on-goal in the 66th minute from the spot with Justine Vanhaevermaet getting netminder Sandra Sigurdardottir to jump in the wrong direction.

After the rather exciting match, despite the even result, Thorvaldsdottir told uefa.com that “It was a really good feeling (to score) and celebrating with the fans from Iceland was amazing,” adding “We came for the win, but a draw is not the end of the world. I’m sure we will come back stronger in the next game.”

Now, Iceland will face off against Italy on Thursday while Belgium will go up against the imposing French squad.

EFE cmg/apa/bp

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