Tears flow as England pull off great escape at women's Euros in high drama

News.com.au

11 hours ago

Chloe Kelly scored a dramatic late winner in extra-time as reigning champions England came from behind to beat Italy 2-1 on Wednesday morning AEST and reach the Women's Euro 2025 final.
The Lionesses had been on the brink of elimination as they trailed to Barbara Bonansea's first-half strike for surprise semi-finalists Italy in Geneva.
But after their remarkable comeback from two goals down to beat Sweden on penalties in last week's quarter-final, they pulled off more heroics here.
Michelle Agyemang came off the bench and forced the extra period by equalising in the 96th minute, and fellow substitute Kelly completed the turnaround by following in to score the winner in the 119th minute off the rebound after her penalty had been saved.
Sarina Wiegman's team are through to their third consecutive major tournament final and the 2022 European champions head to Basel for Sunday's showpiece.
That will be either a repeat of the 2023 Women's World Cup final, which they lost to Spain, or a repeat of the last Euro final, in which they defeated Germany at Wembley — those sides meet in their semi on Wednesday.
It has been quite a ride for England, with this victory following their comeback to beat Sweden in the last eight, while the nature of the defeat for Italy was cruel.
Many of their players were in tears at full time, as the Azzurre — who are ranked 13th in the world and were not expected to come this far — fell short of reaching a first final since the 1997 Euros.
Italy's coach Andrea Soncin was furious after Kelly's penalty and was sent to the tunnel to cool down, with commentators describing his outburst as 'unsavoury'.
Penalty rebounds could be outlawed
Had Kelly's penalty been taken in a shootout, Kelly wouldn't have been able to score off a rebound.
The thrilling finish was extra dramatic given rebounds from penalties could be scrapped by next year's men's FIFA World Cup, The Sun reports.
Iconic moments such as Harry Kane's winning goal for England against Denmark in the Euro 2020 semi-final wouldn't have stood under these suggested changes.
Xabi Alonso scored from the rebound of his saved penalty in Liverpool's iconic 2005 Champions League final comeback against AC Milan.
In a major break, the serious move to alter more than 134 years of football history would see a missed spot-kick bringing a goal-kick for the opposing side.
Thank heavens they haven’t yet brought in this daft proposal to ban rebound goals at penalties. Kelly follows up. England never give up. #WEURO2025
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) July 22, 2025
Definitely don't ban the rebound after a penalty. #ENGITA #Womenseuro2025
— Dale Johnson (@DaleJohnsonESPN) July 22, 2025
doing this after scoring a penalty rebound. a damehood should be in the pipeline pic.twitter.com/SPQjznYGKZ
— harry (@hjsedits) July 22, 2025
119 - In the 119th minute, England's Chloe Kelly has scored the latest goal in UEFA Women's EURO history. Heroine. pic.twitter.com/TD9tqaF9FV
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 22, 2025
While any decision would have to be approved by the law-making International FA Board (Ifab), there is growing backing for the idea that would turn a penalty shot into literally ONE shot.
Senior figures believe that on a majority of occasions the punishment for a handball or foul in the box - the penalty kick - gives the attacking side a far greater chance of scoring a goal than the original infringement had prevented.
To then give the attacking side a second chance of scoring from the rebound is an unfair extra advantage, especially as goalkeepers must have one foot on or behind the line when the kick is taken.
England coach Sarina Wiegman made one change from the quarter-final win on penalties against Sweden, as Esme Morgan came into the defence in place of Jess Carter.
The latter had been the target of racial abuse during the tournament which drew a backlash from Wiegman and the England players in the build-up to this game.
England had the backing of the majority of the 26,539 crowd in Geneva and they had the momentum in the opening stages of the match.
However, Italy looked the fresher of the two teams and the Azzurre opened the scoring in the 33rd minute as the impressive Sofia Cantore reached the right byline before delivering a cross which reached Bonansea at the back post.
The Juventus player controlled before lashing a shot into the roof of the net from close range.
Alessia Russo and Lauren James came closest for England in the first half, but Italy held their lead into the break and Wiegman then sent on Beth Mead at the start of the second half.
Lauren Hemp headed onto the roof of the net and an Alex Greenwood long-ranger was punched away by goalkeeper Laura Giuliani, who was booked for time-wasting with almost 20 minutes still to play.
With the clock ticking down the England coach introduced Kelly followed by Agyemang, two players who had already made a big impact off the bench against Sweden.
Agyemang, the teenage Arsenal forward, replaced captain and centre-back Leah Williamson in a clear sign of desperation in the Lionesses camp.
Italy could have killed the game off but Hannah Hampton made a crucial double save to deny Michela Cambiaghi and Emma Severini in quick succession at a corner in the 86th minute.
That proved to be crucial, as England equalised in the sixth of the seven allotted added minutes at the end of normal time.
Giuliani, having let nothing get past her all evening, failed to hold an awkward cross into the box from the England right and the ball came out to Agyemang who took a touch and blasted in.
Once again England would have to go through extra time. They now had the momentum, and Giuliani did well to stop a Kelly corner going straight in with 108 minutes played.
The remarkable Agyemang then saw a lobbed effort beat Giuliani but come back off the crossbar with four minutes of extra time remaining.
Penalties loomed, but instead it would be just the one spot-kick, awarded when Mead was pushed over in the area right in front of the Croatian referee.
Kelly's effort was saved by Giuliani, but she was on hand to convert the rebound and send England into another final.