Russia grabbed an unexpected place in the Euro 2008 semi-finals with a thoroughly deserved 3-1 extra-time win over Netherlands on Saturday. Goals from substitute Dmitry Torbinsky and playmaker Andrei Arshavin finished off a subdued Netherlands team in the extra period after the sides were level at 1-1 on 90 minutes. Russia had taken a deserved lead through Roman Pavlyuchenko 11 minutes into the second half but were pegged back by a Ruud van Nistelrooy header with just four minutes remaining.

Angela Hucles scored in second-half stoppage time as the United States won the Peace Queen Cup on Saturday with a dramatic 1-0 victory over Canada. With the contest seemingly headed to overtime, Hucles provided the decisive goal by blasting a free-kick past Canadian goalkeeper Erin McLeod in the 92nd minute. “It was a battle, but you want to finish in the final, finish with a goal and finish first and we did that,” U.S. coach Pia Sundhage said. “It was great for us to come up with a win that way. The energy we got from this game, we will bring to Beijing.”

Struggling Luca Toni has failed to score at Euro 2008 but the Italy striker must not be discounted having proved the doubters wrong time and again. Sunday’s quarter-final against Spain in Vienna gives the tall, powerful striker the perfect chance to show that his mini-drought has been due to bad luck rather than bad form. Toni, a late developer who only came to prominence at 27, did find the net in the 1-1 Group C draw with Romania but his header was wrongly ruled out for offside.