U21 Euro 2007: Belgium progress to SF's

Groub A - Matchday 2
Belgium 2-2 Netherlands (Abe Lenstra Stadion, Heerenveen)
Sebastien Pocognoli's 70th-minute strike ensured Belgium joined the Netherlands in the European Under-21 Championship semi-finals after an entertaining draw between the Low Countries rivals.

With Belgium trailing 2-1 at half-time and Group A rivals Portugal beating Israel, Jean-Francois De Sart's side looked to be heading out of the competition. But Pocognoli made sure of their safe passage and a place in the Olympic Games when he drove powerfully beyond Kenneth Vermeer with 20 minutes left.

The draw means the Netherlands finish top of Group A on seven points, two ahead of Belgium. Foppe de Haan's team will play their semi-final in Heerenveen on Wednesday while Belgium travel to Arnhem to play Group B winners Serbia.

Israel 0-4 Portugal (Euroborg Stadion, Groningen)
There was a rainbow over the Euroborg before kick-off but Portugal's hopes of finding a pot of gold here in the Netherlands ended despite this comfortable victory against Israel in their final Group A game. Belgium's 2-2 draw with the Netherlands some 60 kilometres away in Heerenveen consigned them to third place in the section, a point behind Jean-Francois De Sart's Belgians.

Leading 4-0 through goals from Manuel Fernandes, Ricardo Vaz Te, Miguel Veloso and Nani, everything looked rosy for Portugal until the 70th minute when news filtered through that Belgium had equalised against the Dutch. With the inspirational Nani departing on a stretcher in the same minute, suddenly the mood turned sour for Jose Couceiro's side.

While Portugal must now wait for tomorrow's Group B deciders to find out if third spot will earn them a play-off for a berth at the 2008 Olympic Games, Israel's first U21 finals closed with this third successive defeat.

[U21 Euro 2007 Championship Finals Schedule]