Henry sends France into last eight with Brazil extra-time win

Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Round of 16 - France v Brazil - Stade Oceane, Le Havre, France - June 23, 2019 France's Amandine Henry celebrates scoring their second goal with team mates REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

LE HAVRE, France (Reuters) - France captain Amandine Henry came to the rescue as the hosts scraped into the women's World Cup quarter-finals with a 2-1 win against Brazil after extra time on Sunday, setting up a likely clash with holders the United States.

Henry found the back of the net in the 107th minute of a tense game at the Stade Oceane after Thaisa had cancelled out Valerie Gauvin's second-half opener.

Les Bleues struggled to make their early domination count due to the lack of a killer instinct that prevented them wrapping up victory inside 90 minutes.

Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Round of 16 - France v Brazil - Stade Oceane, Le Havre, France - June 23, 2019 France's Amandine Henry celebrates scoring their second goal with Amel Majri REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

The U.S. take on Spain in Reims on Monday.

"It was a... very tense game against a formidable opponent but we did not give up and we wore them down," said France coach Corinne Diacre.

"I would have liked us to play more in the first half so the second half would have been easier but I guess this will be freeing us for the remainder of the tournament."

Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Round of 16 - France v Brazil - Stade Oceane, Le Havre, France - June 23, 2019 France's Gaetane Thiney, Wendie Renard and team mates celebrate their second goal REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Brazil's Marta said: "I'm proud of our performance, the grit that we showed until the end. That's the feeling that I will keep with me.

"Those are the kind of matches that will help women's football to continue to grow."

Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Round of 16 - France v Brazil - Stade Oceane, Le Havre, France - June 23, 2019 France's Amandine Henry celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates REUTERS/Yves Herman

FOUL-RIDDEN MATCH

With Brazil's veteran Formiga returning to the starting lineup, the South Americans appeared to suffer physically as France stamped their authority on a foul-ridden match.

Les Bleues, however, lacked sharpness up front until the 26th minute when Gauvin fired home from Kadidiatou Diani's cross, but the goal was disallowed after a VAR review ruled the striker headed the ball out of goalkeeper Barbara's hands.

Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Round of 16 - France v Brazil - Stade Oceane, Le Havre, France - June 23, 2019 France's Griedge Mbock Bathy saves a ball from Brazil's Debinha on the line REUTERS/Yves Herman

The decision deflated France and Diacre's players were less aggressive, allowing Brazil to grow into the game.

The French were back in business after the break though and the Diani-Gauvin duo struck again, the Montpellier forward latching onto a cross from the winger to open the scoring in the 52nd minute.

Brazil came close to an equaliser four minutes later when France keeper Sarah Bouhaddi tipped a Cristiane header onto the bar.

Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Round of 16 - France v Brazil - Stade Oceane, Le Havre, France - June 23, 2019 France's Eugenie Le Sommer in action with Brazil's Leticia Santos REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

But the leveller came in the 63rd when Thaisa beat Bouhaddi with a low cross-shot, the goal being allowed following a VAR review after first being ruled out by referee Marie-Soleil Beaudoin.

Brazil had the upper hand but France, who still threatened through Diani, held on to force extra time.

Les Bleues now looked fresher but at the end of a quick counter-attack by Brazil, Debihna's shot beat Bouhaddi, only for Griedge Mbock to clear the ball away from the line.

Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Round of 16 - France v Brazil - Stade Oceane, Le Havre, France - June 23, 2019 France's Amel Majri in action with Brazil's Formiga REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Shortly after the restart in the extra period, Diani won a free kick on the left flank which was whipped into the box by Amel Majri and diverted into the net by Henry for the winner.

(Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Ken Ferris and Christian Radnedge)

Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Round of 16 - France v Brazil - Stade Oceane, Le Havre, France - June 23, 2019 Brazil's Cristiane reacts REUTERS/Yves Herman

Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Round of 16 - France v Brazil - Stade Oceane, Le Havre, France - June 23, 2019 France's Valerie Gauvin celebrates scoring their first goal with Amandine Henry, Sarah Bouhaddi and team mates REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Round of 16 - France v Brazil - Stade Oceane, Le Havre, France - June 23, 2019 Brazil's Marta in action with France's Amandine Henry REUTERS/Yves Herman

Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Round of 16 - France v Brazil - Stade Oceane, Le Havre, France - June 23, 2019 France's Eugenie Le Sommer in action with Brazil's Thaisa REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Round of 16 - France v Brazil - Stade Oceane, Le Havre, France - June 23, 2019 Brazil's Beatriz is shown a yellow card by referee Marie-Soleil Beaudoin REUTERS/Yves Herman

Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Round of 16 - France v Brazil - Stade Oceane, Le Havre, France - June 23, 2019 Brazil's Debinha in action with France's Kadidiatou Diani REUTERS/Yves Herman

Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Round of 16 - France v Brazil - Stade Oceane, Le Havre, France - June 23, 2019 France's Viviane Asseyi in action with Brazil's Debinha REUTERS/Yves Herman

Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Round of 16 - France v Brazil - Stade Oceane, Le Havre, France - June 23, 2019 France's Valerie Gauvin scores their first goal REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Round of 16 - France v Brazil - Stade Oceane, Le Havre, France - June 23, 2019 Brazil's Marta in action with France's Marion Torrent REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Round of 16 - France v Brazil - Stade Oceane, Le Havre, France - June 23, 2019 Referee Marie-Soleil Beaudoin refers to VAR as France's Eugenie Le Sommer and Marion Torrent celebrate their first goal with France's Valerie Gauvin on the pitch before it was disallowed after the VAR review REUTERS/Yves Herman

Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Round of 16 - France v Brazil - Stade Oceane, Le Havre, France - June 23, 2019 Brazil's Marta, Debinha, Leticia Santos and team mates look on REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Round of 16 - France v Brazil - Stade Oceane, Le Havre, France - June 23, 2019 Brazil's Marta in action with France's Sarah Bouhaddi and Wendie Renard REUTERS/Yves Herman

Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Round of 16 - France v Brazil - Stade Oceane, Le Havre, France - June 23, 2019 General view after France's Valerie Gauvin scores their first goal before it was disallowed after a VAR review, as Brazil's Barbara receives medical attention REUTERS/Yves Herman

Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Round of 16 - France v Brazil - Stade Oceane, Le Havre, France - June 23, 2019 Brazil's Barbara lies on the ground after sustaining an injury REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Round of 16 - France v Brazil - Stade Oceane, Le Havre, France - June 23, 2019 France's Valerie Gauvin scores their first goal REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Round of 16 - France v Brazil - Stade Oceane, Le Havre, France - June 23, 2019 Brazil's Marta looks dejected REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson