Chloe Kelly scores dramatic late winner in further time as reigning champions England come from behind to beat Italy 2-1.
Chloe Kelly scored a dramatic late winner in extra-time as reigning champions England got here from behind to beat Italy 2-1 and attain the Girls’s Euro 2025 remaining.
The Lionesses had been getting ready to elimination on Tuesday as they trailed to Barbara Bonansea’s first-half strike for the shock semifinalists Italy in Geneva.
However after their exceptional comeback from two targets all the way down to beat Sweden on penalties in final week’s quarterfinal, they pulled off extra heroics right here.
Michelle Agyemang got here off the bench and compelled the additional interval by equalising within the 96th minute, whereas fellow substitute Kelly accomplished the turnaround by following in to attain the winner within the 119th minute after her penalty had been saved.
England’s Chloe Kelly scores their second objective from a rebound after her penalty is saved (Stefan Wermuth/Reuters)
Sarina Wiegman’s crew are via to their third consecutive main match remaining. The 2022 European champions head to Basel for Sunday’s showpiece.
That shall be both a repeat of the 2023 Girls’s World Cup remaining, which they misplaced to Spain, or a repeat of the final Euro remaining, wherein they defeated Germany at Wembley – these sides meet of their semi on Wednesday.
It has been fairly a journey for England, with this victory following their comeback to beat Sweden within the final eight, whereas the character of the defeat for Italy was merciless.
Lots of their gamers have been in tears at full-time, because the Azzurre – who’re ranked thirteenth on this planet and weren’t anticipated to come back this far – fell in need of reaching a primary remaining for the reason that 1997 Euros.
England coach Wiegman made one change from the quarterfinal win on penalties in opposition to Sweden, as Esme Morgan got here into the defence rather than Jess Carter.
The latter had been the goal of racial abuse through the match, which drew a backlash from Wiegman and the England gamers within the build-up to this recreation.
England had the backing of the vast majority of the 26,539 crowd in Geneva, and so they had the momentum within the opening phases of the match.
Nevertheless, Italy seemed the more energizing of the 2 groups. The Azzurre opened the scoring within the thirty third minute because the spectacular Sofia Cantore reached the suitable byline earlier than delivering a cross that reached the again put up.
Italy’s Barbara Bonansea scores their first objective previous England’s Hannah Hampton (Matthew Childs/Reuters)
The Juventus participant managed earlier than lashing a shot into the roof of the web from shut vary.
Alessia Russo and Lauren James got here closest for England within the first half, however Italy held their lead into the break. Wiegman despatched on Beth Mead initially of the second half.
Lauren Hemp headed onto the roof of the web, and an Alex Greenwood long-ranger was punched away by goalkeeper Laura Giuliani, who was booked for time-wasting with virtually 20 minutes nonetheless to play.
With the clock ticking down, the England coach launched Kelly, adopted by Agyemang, two gamers who had already made a big effect off the bench in opposition to Sweden.
Agyemang, the teenage Arsenal ahead, changed captain and centre-back Leah Williamson in a transparent signal of desperation within the Lionesses camp.
Italy may have killed the sport off, however Hannah Hampton made a vital double save to disclaim Michela Cambiaghi and Emma Severini in fast succession at a nook within the 86th minute.
That proved to be essential, as England equalised within the sixth of the seven allotted added minutes on the finish of regular time.
Giuliani, having let nothing get previous her all night, failed to carry an ungainly cross into the field from the England proper, and the ball got here out to who took a contact and blasted in.
England’s Michelle Agyemang scores their first objective (Stefan Wermuth/Reuters)
As soon as once more, England must undergo further time. They now had the momentum, and Giuliani did properly to cease a Kelly nook going straight in, with 108 minutes performed.
The exceptional Agyemang then noticed a lobbed effort beat Giuliani however come again off the crossbar with 4 minutes of additional time remaining.
Penalties loomed, however as a substitute, it could be simply the one spot kick, awarded when Mead was pushed over within the space proper in entrance of the Croatian referee.
Kelly’s effort was saved by Giuliani, however she was readily available to transform the rebound and ship England into one other remaining.
