England 3-0 Cameroon
Hosts France beat Brazil 2-1 to reach the Women’s World Cup quarter-finals in another game dominated by video assistant referee decisions.
Valerie Gauvin, who had earlier had a goal ruled out by VAR, put France ahead after a fine run by Kadidiatou Diani.
Brazil levelled when Thaisa’s drive, originally ruled out for offside, was given after another VAR check in Le Havre.
Amandine Henry got on the end of Amel Majri’s long free-kick for the winner.
A tightly contested tie was minutes away from a penalty shootout when France captain Henry scored from close range to send Les Bleues into the last eight and a tie with either the United States – the 2015 winners – or Spain in Paris on Friday (20:00 BST).
France 2-1 Brazil (after extra time)
Cameroon, who are 43 places below Phil Neville’s side in the world rankings and playing in only their second Women’s World Cup, began the tie as major underdogs.
They had reached the last 16 thanks to a 95th-minute winner over New Zealand on 20 June, which saw them progress as one of the four best third-placed sides, but Sunday’s drama against England was of a different kind.
There was an edge to the match early on, with Yvonne Leuko booked for an apparent elbow on England winger Nikita Parris, before Augustine Ejangue appeared to spit on Toni Duggan after the backpass that led to the opener.
Cameroon then reacted with despair after White’s goal was given by VAR, temporarily refusing to restart play, and some of their players were reportedly in tears in the tunnel at half-time.
Boos and hissing from the stands then followed the decision to disallow Nchout’s strike, coupled with widespread protestations from their substitutes.
And the first ever competitive meeting between these two sides concluded with a poor challenge by Alexandra Takounda on Houghton, for which the Cameroon player was booked as her team-mates again remonstrated with the referee.
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Twitter @profseunoyediji
