Late Chloe Kelly goal sends England into Women's Euro final after dramatic comeback against Italy
'I have many emotions again. I feel relief, I feel happy—it feels a bit surreal but we are here and we are going to the final,' Wiegman said following the 2-1 win in Geneva, secured thanks to a Chloe Kelly goal in the 119th minute.
Italy were seconds away from a shock victory over the defending champions and a place in the final as they led deep into injury time thanks to Barbara Bonansea's 33rd-minute goal.
But substitute Michelle Agyemang equalised for England in the sixth minute of stoppage time to force the extra period, before Kelly—who had also come off the bench—followed in to score the deciding goal after her penalty had been saved, just as another shoot-out loomed.
'It does feel like a movie. When it finishes like that I am enjoying it but it was a little bit dramatic,' smiled Wiegman.
Her team had already produced a stunning comeback against Sweden in the quarter-finals, when they trailed 2-0 before two goals by Lucy Bronze and Agyemang in the space of three minutes late on forced extra time and they eventually advanced on penalties.
'We know with the players we have in the squad that we can always score more because we have shown that multiple times,' Wiegman added.
'At the end we did it and then we got extra time, and then we got the penalty. We were a bit lucky to score it in the second stage but we are through.' •
Three in a row
England, who saw winger Lauren James come off at half-time with an ankle injury, will now go to Basel for the final on Sunday against either Spain or Germany—they meet in their last-four clash on Wednesday.
It will be a third consecutive major tournament final for the Lionesses, who beat Germany in extra time in the Euro 2022 final at Wembley and then lost to Spain in the deciding game at the following year's World Cup in Sydney.
'That is what happens when a great team comes together and makes things happen—three consecutive finals playing under an unbelievable manager in Sarina,' said Kelly, the Arsenal forward who got the winner in the 2022 Euro final.
'It is incredible to be part of this special team. I am so proud.' She added: 'I can't believe what has just happened. The belief in the squad, the resilience and the togetherness in this group is just so special.'
Meanwhile, Italy coach Andrea Soncin said he was proud of his team despite the agony of seeing the Azzurre fall just short of reaching a first final since the 1997 Euros.
'It hurts but we are very proud for all that we have done,' said Soncin, who took charge of the team in 2023 and is now eyeing the 2027 World Cup.
'The fact we were just a minute away from the final can be encouraging for us.
'We will need a few days to get over this bitter moment but we will keep growing, and our future goal is to go to the World Cup in Brazil so we are already looking forward.' — AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
9 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Yasmim brace sends Brazil into Copa America semis with 4-1 win over Paraguay
QUITO, July 23 — Yasmim scored twice in the first half as defending champions Brazil reached the Women's Copa America semi-finals with a 4-1 victory over Group B rivals Paraguay in Quito yesterday. Yasmim opened the scoring in the 27th minute with a curling free kick that nestled inside the far post and she doubled Brazil's lead 12 minutes later with an almost identical effort, catching the Paraguayan keeper off guard once again. Brazil goalkeeper Lorena produced a superb save to deny a long-range strike from Claudia Martinez before Paraguay's Camila Arrieta was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a foul on captain Marta. Brazil made their numerical advantage count with Amanda Gutierres making it 3-0 on the hour mark but a lapse in defence allowed Paraguay to pull one back in the 65th minute through the tournament's leading scorer Martinez, who notched her fifth goal of the competition. However, any hopes of a comeback were short-lived as Duda Sampaio restored Brazil's three-goal lead with a composed finish in the 75th minute. 'I'm very happy for the goals but above all for the result and for the victory,' Yasmim said at the Estadio Gonzalo Pozo Ripalda. 'We are very happy for the qualification to the semis. We have many aspects that we know we can improve. We have to keep working and giving our all for this shirt.' Brazil remain unbeaten in Group B and will face Colombia in their final group-stage fixture on Friday - a rematch of the previous edition's final. 'Colombia are a very strong team, we know it will be difficult,' Yasmim added. 'This match is like a derby, we have to prepare ourselves in the best way to face them.' — AFP
Malay Mail
10 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Paret-Peintre lands first French Tour stage win in Mont Ventoux thriller
PARIS, July 22 — Valentin Paret-Peintre became the first French winner on this year's Tour de France as he edged an enthralling stage 16 yesterday pipping Ireland's Ben Healy atop the mythical 1910m altitude Mont Ventoux summit finish. Behind them Jonas Vingegaard attacked overall leader Tadej Pogacar relentlessly but the defending champion tracked the Dane all the way up the 15km ascent to extend his lead by two seconds. Trailing by 4min 13sec at the start of this stage Vingegaard attacked with 9km to climb on Mont Ventoux, whose eery upper reaches resemble a lunar landscape. "I didn't want to push too hard and then let him have me on a counter-attack. I kept my rhythm as much as I could," said Pogacar who has been fighting off a cold this week. "He attacked many times but I just tried to hold his wheel." Vingegaard was knocked off his bike by a motorbike after the finish line but was unhurt, remounting to go and congratulate Pogacar on another fine battle. "He seemed okay," Pogacar said later. Pogacar's Team UAE boss described Vingegaard as a "warrior". "He's got the guts and the legs and we expect him to keep on attacking every day now. He's a warrior," Mauro Gianetti said. The battle for the overall lead, however, was eclipsed by a frantic fight for the stage win between EF's Healy and Soudal Quick-Step's Paret-Peintre who became the first French winner on Mont Ventoux since Richard Virenque in 2002. "He looked so happy at the finish line," said Pogacar, who crossed the summit 43sec adrift. Mont Ventoux has long been held in awe by riders and spectators alike and it has witnessed some of the greatest dramas and tragedies of the Tour. In 1967, the British cyclist Tom Simpson died here after collapsing on a baking climb. The great Eddy Merckx once needed oxygen at the summit while Chris Froome ran part of the way up during a frantic wait for mechanical assistance on his way to a third Tour de France title in 2016. 'Perfect tactic' Healy, who wore the yellow jersey for two days after winning the Bastille Day stage six, appeared to be heading for his second stage win as the two riders approached the finish of an epic tussle. Paret-Peintre looked completely drained but, cheered on by the home crowd, he found a final surge of strength to overtake the Irishman with 20 metres remaining and held on to the line. "I was near giving up, Healy was so strong but I said to myself come on, it's the Tour de France, Mont Ventoux," said Paret-Peintre. "I knew that if I held on, the last section suited me better than him as it's really steep. It turned out to be the perfect tactic." Healy's consolation was to be awarded the day's combativity prize while moving up one place to ninth in the overall standings. Almost unnoticed further down the mountain, German break out star Florian Lipowitz consolidated his third place, extending his lead on fourth-placed Scottish rider Oscar Onley by around 30 seconds. With two more Alpine stages coming up and five more stages left Vingegaard and his Visma team did everything they could to hurt the Team UAE leader Pogacar here, and can only hope they have tired the pugnacious champion. But the 26-year-old resisted all they threw at him, despite being isolated from his teammates early in the climb. Stage 17 should be one for the sprinters as Tim Merlier hopes to add to his two stage wins and current green jersey Jonathan Milan also targets a second win at the 700m straight run to the finish line at Valence. The weather however could rewrite the script with 50kph winds forecast along the 170km run. — AFP
Malay Mail
11 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Late Chloe Kelly goal sends England into Women's Euro final after dramatic comeback against Italy
GENEVA, July 23 — England coach Sarina Wiegman said she felt 'many emotions' after her team produced another dramatic comeback to beat Italy in extra time yesterday and reach the final of the Women's Euro 2025. 'I have many emotions again. I feel relief, I feel happy—it feels a bit surreal but we are here and we are going to the final,' Wiegman said following the 2-1 win in Geneva, secured thanks to a Chloe Kelly goal in the 119th minute. Italy were seconds away from a shock victory over the defending champions and a place in the final as they led deep into injury time thanks to Barbara Bonansea's 33rd-minute goal. But substitute Michelle Agyemang equalised for England in the sixth minute of stoppage time to force the extra period, before Kelly—who had also come off the bench—followed in to score the deciding goal after her penalty had been saved, just as another shoot-out loomed. 'It does feel like a movie. When it finishes like that I am enjoying it but it was a little bit dramatic,' smiled Wiegman. Her team had already produced a stunning comeback against Sweden in the quarter-finals, when they trailed 2-0 before two goals by Lucy Bronze and Agyemang in the space of three minutes late on forced extra time and they eventually advanced on penalties. 'We know with the players we have in the squad that we can always score more because we have shown that multiple times,' Wiegman added. 'At the end we did it and then we got extra time, and then we got the penalty. We were a bit lucky to score it in the second stage but we are through.' • Three in a row England, who saw winger Lauren James come off at half-time with an ankle injury, will now go to Basel for the final on Sunday against either Spain or Germany—they meet in their last-four clash on Wednesday. It will be a third consecutive major tournament final for the Lionesses, who beat Germany in extra time in the Euro 2022 final at Wembley and then lost to Spain in the deciding game at the following year's World Cup in Sydney. 'That is what happens when a great team comes together and makes things happen—three consecutive finals playing under an unbelievable manager in Sarina,' said Kelly, the Arsenal forward who got the winner in the 2022 Euro final. 'It is incredible to be part of this special team. I am so proud.' She added: 'I can't believe what has just happened. The belief in the squad, the resilience and the togetherness in this group is just so special.' Meanwhile, Italy coach Andrea Soncin said he was proud of his team despite the agony of seeing the Azzurre fall just short of reaching a first final since the 1997 Euros. 'It hurts but we are very proud for all that we have done,' said Soncin, who took charge of the team in 2023 and is now eyeing the 2027 World Cup. 'The fact we were just a minute away from the final can be encouraging for us. 'We will need a few days to get over this bitter moment but we will keep growing, and our future goal is to go to the World Cup in Brazil so we are already looking forward.' — AFP
