Super subs save the day again as England go through to Women's Euro 2025 final
Trailing 1-0 deep into second-half stoppage time against Italy in their Euro 2025 semifinal, the defending champions looked beaten, but Agyemang levelled to force extra time and Kelly snatched the winner to seal England's place in Sunday's final in Basel.
For the second game in a row, the pair came on and proved decisive, and with Beth Mead also impressing from among the ranks of the replacements, England coach Sarina Wiegman has some welcome selection problems ahead of the decider against either Germany or Spain.
Just as she did against Sweden in the quarter-final, Agyemang came off the bench to level, and though that game went to a penalty shootout, this time Kelly needed only the rebound from one late spot-kick to send her side through.
Agyemang has been a colossus for England in her substitute appearances to date, providing power, physicality and a nose for goal when they need it most -- not bad for a 19-year-old who was a ball girl for an England game at Wembley only four years ago.
Kelly's wing work has been equally exemplary, her unshakeable confidence allowing her to persistently create chances and change every game she entered.
Their contributions were vital. Italy defended with a mix of heroism, wisdom and cynicism that looked to be enough to see them into the final for the first time since 1997.
The Italians had done superbly, making sure their clearances went to a teammate or out to the wings to lessen the danger and they presented the England players with a solid block in the middle, inviting them to shoot from distance.
Their strategy of compressing space and denying angled balls behind their defence effectively restricted England's attack, limiting striker Alessia Russo to a handful of touches in the box.
The introduction of Agyemang and her combination of skill and physicality gave England a more direct weapon, and with Kelly marauding down the wings, the reigning champions suddenly looked to have a sliver of hope.
Italy keeper Laura Giuliani spilled the cross that Agyemang snapped up and converted into an equaliser, and the keeper saved from Kelly's extra-time penalty, but could do nothing to prevent her from steering home the rebound as the super subs struck again to save England.
"We're going to make a movie some day! Well, this is a movie, my goodness, it's unbelievable. Here we are again, it's really, really special," an elated Wiegman said, praising her supporting cast for their blockbuster ending.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Today
6 hours ago
- Gulf Today
Krishna and Siraj rock England in Test series finale
Guyer Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj took four wickets each as India fought back in the fifth and deciding Test against England at the Oval on Friday. England were 129-1 in reply to India's 224 all out as they threatened to build a substantial first-innings lead. But they were eventually dismissed for 247, just 23 runs ahead. The recalled Krishna had figures of 4-62 in 16 overs and fellow paceman Siraj 4-86 in 16.2 in a match India must win to end one of the most enthralling series in England since the 2005 Ashes level at 2-2. India were 75-2 in their second innings, a lead of 52 runs, when bad light ended play on the second day, with England a bowler down in the absence of the injured Chris Woakes. Yashasvi Jaiswal was 51 not out after being dropped twice. The left-handed opener was reprieved on 20 when Harry Brook floored a tough catch at second slip following a loose drive off Gus Atkinson. And he was missed again on 40 when Liam Dawson failed to sight a catch in the deep and was hit in the face. Jaiswal cashed in with a 44-ball fifty completed when he guided Jamie Overton over the slips for six. India opener KL Rahul was caught by first slip Joe Root off Josh Tongue before Sai Sudharsan, dropped on seven, was lbw to Atkinson for 11. Earlier, Crawley and Ben Duckett shared a blistering first-wicket stand of 92 in just 13 overs after Atkinson marked his return to Test cricket with a five-wicket haul. Both openers fell either side of lunch, however, before stand-in England captain Ollie Pope, leading the side in place of the injured Ben Stokes, was lbw to Siraj for 22. Crawley and Duckett dominated India's attack, with left-hander Duckett telling Akash Deep 'you can't get me out'. Deep, however, had Duckett caught behind for 43 off an attempted scoop, then put his arm round the unimpressed batsman's shoulder and appeared to say a few words as he walked off. This incident came after India captain Shubman Gill accused England of ignoring the 'spirit of cricket' by time-wasting in the third Test at Lord's. England were then angered by the India's decision to bat on in the fourth Test at Old Trafford rather than agree a draw as soon as possible. Siraj stars: Ater Duckett's exit, Crawley holed out off a miscued pull against Krishna for 64, with 56 of those runs coming in boundaries. The usually mild-mannered Root, second in the all-time list of Test match run scorers, found himself exchanging words with Krishna before the umpires intervened, and was lbw to Siraj for 29. Jamie Smith's edged drive off Krishna well caught by Rahul at second slip and four balls later Overton was lbw for a duck. Brook struck an extraordinary 'falling' sweep for six off Siraj during a 57-ball fifty. But Siraj bowled him for 53, with Brook the last man out as Woakes was unable to bat. England paceman Woakes was effectively ruled out of the rest of the match before play on Friday after suffering a shoulder injury when diving in an attempt to prevent a boundary on Thursday. But Atkinson responded with a superb return of 5-33 in 21.4 in an innings where he also ran out the in-form Gill. The 27-year-old's fourth five-wicket haul in just 13 Tests was all the more creditable as this was Atkinson's first senior match since being sidelined with hamstring trouble following a one-off Test against Zimbabwe in May. India, who resumed on 204-6, lost their last four wickets for just 20 more runs in 5.4 overs on Friday. Agence France-Presse
Khaleej Times
10 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
India hit back against England on another remarkable day in 5th Test
India roared back into contention on an exhilarating day two of the final Test on Friday as their seamers restricted England to a 23-run lead after the hosts had threatened to run away with a match that the tourists need to win to square the series. After mopping up India's brittle tail in less than 30 minutes in the morning, openers Zac Crawley and Ben Duckett raced to 92-0 in 12 overs in a blistering return of Bazball. However, continuing the back and forth theme of the entire series, India responded as their bowlers ran in relentlessly to peg England back to 247. Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal then scored quickly in a potentially awkward last 90 minutes, ending unbeaten on 51 with India closing on 75-2, 52 runs ahead to leave the pivotal match fascinatingly poised. Another fabulously undulating day began with India resuming at 204-6 but soon skittled for 224 as pace bowler Gus Atkinson took five wickets in his first Test since May. It was an all-too-familiar collapse by the tourists this summer as Karun Nair fell lbw for 57 and Washington Sundar was caught for 26. Atkinson then bowled Mohammed Siraj and had Prasidh Krishna caught behind, both for ducks, to finish with 5-33. England set about their reply in their usual, swashbuckling fashion, exemplified by Duckett's extraordinary "reverse hook" for six off Akash Deep. They reached 50 in seven overs - the fastest 50 opening partnership England have ever managed in a Test - but fell just short of the 100 as Duckett was caught behind reversing for 43. They were 109-1 at lunch and England looked poised to take command but India, as they have all summer, refused to buckle as Crawley (64) and Ollie Pope (22) quickly departed. Joe Root brought his usual calm to proceedings until Siraj nipped one back at him for an lbw on 29, with Jacob Bethell going the same way soon after. Krishna finished off the session in style by having Jamie Smith brilliantly caught in the slips for eight by KL Rahul then getting Jamie Overton lbw for nought and followed up with the wicket of Atkinson to finish with 4-62. Harry Brook had a late flurry either side of a rain delay before becoming Siraj's fourth victim when bowled for 53 as England, with injured Chris Woakes absent, were all out for 247. India's openers quickly erased that and pushed on well beyond, with Jaiswal looking particularly enterprising en route to a quickfire 51 — though he was badly dropped in the deep on 40. Rahul departed tamely for seven off Josh Tongue, and Sai Sudharsan followed, lbw to Atkinson for 11, leaving Deep not out four. With good weather forecast for Saturday another Oval full house will turn up in expectation of more fireworks and what has been one of the most entertaining series for years still in the balance.
Int'l Cricket Council
11 hours ago
- Int'l Cricket Council
Match in balance after bowlers stage India's fightback ICC World Test Championship
The see-saw battle in the England-India series continued as India ended Day 2 of The Oval Test with 52 runs ahead, after bowling out England for 247 in the first innings. Yashasvi Jaiswal (51*) and nightwatchman Akash Deep saw off England's attack after the hosts were succesful in grabbing two Indian wickets of KL Rahul and Sai Sudharsan before stumps even as they dropped Jaiswal when he was on 41. As many as 16 wickets fell on the second day of the decider as pacers dominated the proceedings leaving the Test perfectly poised for an exciting finish. With England openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley threatening to take the game away after India folded up early at the start, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna staged India's comeback into the game, restricting England's lead to just 23 runs. Both Siraj and Krishna bowled better lines post lunch with Siraj breaking England's back as he picked four key wickets including that of the stand-in captain Ollie Pope (22), Joe Root (29), and Jacob Bethell during a fiery eight-over spell. Siraj's terrific comeback after a forgettable morning session, made him the highest wicket taker in the series after claiming Harry Brook (53) as his 18th scalp in the tournament. Siraj was ably supported by Krishna who started the proceedings after lunch by removing the sublime-looking Crawley (64), following up with the wickets of Jamie Smith, Jamie Overton and Gus Atkinson. Brook tried to hold one end with the tail and brought up his half-century in process before Siraj got better off him. England began Day 2 at The Oval with a player short and with extra responsibility falling on their pacers after Chris Woakes was ruled out of the final Test due to a shoulder injury. As India resumed at 204/6, the England bowlers led by Gus Atkinson made light work of the Indian tail after Josh Tongue trapped Karun Nair (57) plumb in front. The visitors lost their final four wickets for just six runs and collapsed within the first half an hour of day's play with Atkinson claiming his fourth five-wicket haul after he snapped the last three wickets. England continued to boss the first session as openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley got off to a flier, with a scoring rate of over seven runs per over notching up their 100 within 15 overs, losing Duckett (43) in the process. However the second session belonged to India as the pacers with four wickets each made sure India fought their way back into the game.
