Latest news with #Michelle Agyemang
CNN
2 days ago
- Sport
- CNN
England produces another dramatic comeback to make second consecutive Women's Euros final
England has made late comebacks its calling card at the 2025 Women's Euros and produced another dramatic finish in its 2-1 victory over Italy in the semifinals in Geneva, Switzerland on Tuesday. The Lionesses had trailed most of the match after Barbara Bonansea's first half goal on 33 minutes until Michelle Agyemang equalized in the 96th minute, with less than two minutes of added time remaining. In extra time and with the contest looking as if it was going to penalties for the second consecutive match, England was awarded a penalty in the 117th minute when Beth Mead was fouled in the box. Although Azzurre goalkeeper Laura Giuliani initially saved Chloe Kelly's spot-kick, the English forward was quickest to react, stabbing the rebound home from close range and booking the Lionesses' place in the final in the most dramatic fashion. 'It is definitely a movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat,' Kelly told reporters afterwards. 'These girls are brilliant – they make me so proud to be English, as every English person is right now. 'I can't believe what happened. The togetherness of this group is so special.' England had qualified for the semifinals in an extraordinary manner, scoring two late goals to come from 2-0 down to force extra time against Sweden before a dramatic penalty shootout unfolded with the Lionesses managing to keep their cool at the key moment. Italy, on the other hand, had beaten Norway in the quarterfinals but was the heavy underdog against the Women's Euros defending champion, looking for its first spot in the final since 1997. Despite the pre-match predictions, it was the Italians who struck first. A probing cross from Sofia Cantore caused all manner of confusion among the England defenders before Bonansea was able to corral the ball and smash it into the roof of the net. With the Azzurre ahead, England went on the front foot in search of the equalizer. And whether through some wayward finishing or some inspired goalkeeping from Giuliani, the Lionesses were unable to draw themselves level. That was until the 96th minute when Agyemang, who has made a habit as a substitute of providing big, late impacts at this tournament, once again displayed her proficiency off the bench. Giuliani could only parry a cross with the rebound falling to the 19-year-old's feet where she smashed the ball home. The goal sparked wild scenes of celebration, with Italy's players clearly distraught at conceding so late into the match. With the game in extra-time, both teams had chances to score again – Agyemang came closest in the 117th minute where her lob bounced off the crossbar. But with penalties looming once again for England, Mead was fouled in the box as she attempted to connect with a Lauren Hemp cross, with referee Ivana Martinčić pointing to the spot. There was even more drama though as Kelly – with her unique run-up before her penalty, comprising of a hop and a jump – had her penalty saved but managed to tap home to clinch a dramatic win. The victory continues England's success at major international tournaments, with this marking the team's third final in a row; the Lionesses won the Women's Euros on home soil in 2022 and lost to Spain in the World Cup final in 2023. 'I feel like it hasn't really sunk in. It was just a rollercoaster of emotions, trying to stay focused in the 120 minutes to make sure we didn't let Italy back into the game,' England defender Lucy Bronze said afterwards. 'I can imagine once I'm in the dressing room, and we're on the bus, and we get back to (the team base in) Zurich, it'll sink in that we've made it to another final. 'I don't think you'll find a team in world football with more fight and more resilience than this England team. To come back and to never give up, the same as we did in the previous game, and to fight to the end; we kept our dreams alive and then to finish it in extra time as well is unbelievable.' England will face either Spain or Germany in Sunday's final in Basel, with the two facing off in their semifinal on Wednesday in Zurich.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'Kelly & Agyemang are this year's Russo & Toone'
"Kelly and Agyemang are this year's Russo and Toone."A text from a BBC Sport user after England's dramatic Euro 2025 semi-final win over Italy summed it up route to winning Euro 2022 three years ago, the Lionesses relied heavily on their super subs - particularly Alessia Russo and Ella duo both featured in all six games at that tournament, but neither of them started a came off the bench to score two goals - including one in the final - while Russo scored four - the most a substitute has ever registered in an edition of the Women's European forward to 2025 and there is a new double act making a name for themselves and propelling Sarina Wiegman's side to another major tournament forward Chloe Kelly has come off the bench in all of England's matches so far in Switzerland, while her Gunners teammate Michelle Agyemang has made three substitute pair were instrumental in England's progression to the semi-final, and again for the came on in the quarter-final when England were 2-0 down to Sweden. Kelly provided the assist for Lucy Bronze's goal and playing a part in setting up the equaliser, scored by Agyemang in the 81st minute to force extra time. Kelly was also one of the three England players to score in the shootout as England reached the last days later against Italy, England once again found themselves behind and Wiegman had to turn to her bench - specifically Kelly and Agyemang - to save the Agyemang kept England in the tournament and the 19-year-old equalised in the 96th minute of normal time to force extra with a minute left before a penalty shootout, Kelly found the bottom corner from the rebound after her penalty was saved to send the Lionesses into successive Euros finals. 'Agyemang turned England's history on its head' Agyemang was a headline inclusion in Wiegman's Euro 2025 squad, having made only one senior appearance before the made headlines on her debut in April, scoring just 41 seconds after being introduced against if Agyemang could be a "wildcard" off the bench after naming her in the 23-player squad, Wiegman said: "Yeah I think so, I think so. We will see what she can bring."I have seen her in training sessions and what she did in Belgium - she can bring something different. I hope she can show that."It's safe to say Agyemang showed Wiegman what she can goal against Italy was her second in Switzerland, making her the first teenager to net twice at a Women's Euros since Cecilie Pedersen for Norway in 19-year-old says she doesn't know how she keeps saving England when they need it most."I don't know," she said after the game in Geneva. "It's by the grace of God. We are doing wonders as a team and I am so proud that I can say I'm a part of this team."England captain Leah Williamson, who was replaced by her Arsenal team-mate Agyemang in the 85th minute said: "She feels inevitable right now."She is quality. What she brings, she is a nightmare to play against. I'm glad she is my teammate for club and country. She deserves her flowers, I hope she gets them, I hope she enjoys tonight and I hope she is ready to go at the weekend."BBC Sport pundit Nedum Onuoha, who backed Agyemang to have a breakthrough tournament, added: "She's 19 years old in a European Championship semi-final and she played like she had been there tonnes of times like some of her team-mates."She is an absolute star."Agyemang almost scored a second against Italy when she lobbed the goalkeeper and hit the crossbar minutes before Kelly's penalty."She nearly got the winner," England's record goalscorer Ellen White said."I think she is just a special, special player, a special human being. She plays beyond her years and has been absolutely phenomenal, what she's done with limited minutes, she's turned England's history on its head and helped them reach another final. 'Kelly comes to England's rescue' Kelly's winner against Italy in the 119th minute was the latest goal ever scored at a Women's forward - who signed permanently for Arsenal before Euro 2025 - said she considered taking a break from football earlier this year after a difficult spell with Manchester joined Arsenal on loan and earned a place back in Wiegman's England squad. Now she and the Lionesses are reaping the rewards."The moments in January when I felt like giving up football makes you so grateful for these moments here today and makes you enjoy every minute of that," Kelly said after the who famously scored the winning goal for England as they beat Germany at Wembley to beat Euro 2022, has "made a difference" in every game in Switzerland according to Bronze."She did it before the last Euros as well," Bronze said. "We forget she came back from an ACL injury but then she came off the bench and scored the winning goal in the Euros final."She has been doing it week in, week out and she's just got this attitude and this confidence that I don't think you can buy."She has not started any of the games but in every single game she's come on and made a difference. She's one of those players that you want on your team and not on the other team, that's for sure."Kelly's penalty was initially saved by Laura Giuliani, but she drilled home the rebound to avoid another shootout."Thankfully Chloe Kelly had the composure to sprint and tuck it under the goalkeeper," England record goalscorer Ellen White told BBC Radio 5 Live. "To have the composure and still follow up."She's come to England's rescue, she's got that mentality to come on and make a huge difference." Should Agyemang and Kelly start final? Fans' reaction In her post-match news conference, Wiegman was asked if Agyemang is forcing herself into her starting line-up for the final."She is not forcing me," Wiegman said. "She is very grateful to get minutes and she is very ready for it. Her growth and development went so quickly. From not starting at Brighton to getting lots more minutes and showing how good she is, to coming into our team. It went smooth for her and she feels very good about that."Here is what BBC Sport readers think on whether Kelly and Agyemang deserve to start in Basel on 27 Please let's get the starting 11 right on Sunday - Kelly and Agyemang must start. And James just fades away in the pressure Chloe Kelly is a big game player. Something always happens with her on the pitch. Should start ahead of James. Substitutions need to happen earlier. Managers think they are too clever by half Well our luck is still in but, I can't understand SW's substitutions. Kelly should have come on at half-time. And why were Agyemang and Beever-Jones put on so late?Jas: They need start Kelly and Agyemang. This is the second time they made a Agyemang should start in the final, she is exceptional.
France 24
3 days ago
- Sport
- France 24
England stuns Italy in thrilling extra-time comeback to reach Euro 2025 final
England is living on the brink and survived another near-inevitable elimination all the way to another Women's European Championship final. The defending champion broke Italy's hearts — twice — in a 2-1 win after extra time in their semifinal on Tuesday. Chloe Kelly scored the decisive goal in the 119th minute, shooting home the rebound only after Italy goalkeeper Laura Giuliani saved her penalty kick. Italy was forced into extra time only because another substitute, Michelle Agyemang, leveled the game deep into stoppage time. Kelly and Agyemang also were crucial for England in another great escape in the quarterfinals against Sweden. It was all so cruel on unheralded Italy which had led since Barbara Bonansea's rasping volleyed shot in the 33rd minute. England will now defend its title in Sunday's final in Basel against either Spain or Germany. Spain and Germany meet Wednesday in Zurich. For the second time in six days, England had stared down what looked an inevitable exit and survived into extra time. Italy would have been a worthy winner just for the immense defending of central backs Elena Linari and Cecilia Salvai. But Agyemang fired in a low shot after Giuliani spilled a cross in a rare handling error. The ball arrowed toward the net cruelly through the legs of both Linari and Giuliani. Teenage substitute Agyemang also had scored a crucial late equalizing goal in England's quarterfinal win over Sweden. England had trailed 2-0 after 78 minutes then survived a chaotic penalty shootout.
The Guardian
18-07-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
WFW: England victorious after shootout chaos and Italy stun Norway
Rate, review, and share on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Audioboom, Mixcloud, Acast and Stitcher, and join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and email. On the podcast today: England reach the Euro 2025 semi-finals after an astonishing 3-2 penalty shootout win over Sweden in Zurich. The panel discusses the game in detail, from Sarina Wiegman's super subs and Michelle Agyemang's breakout moment to secret notes, Hannah Hampton's heroics, and Lucy Bronze's nerveless strike. They also weigh up the Lionesses' chances against their semi-final opponents, Italy. Elsewhere, Italy knocked out Norway with a dramatic Cristiana Girelli double, including a 90th-minute winner, to make their first Euros semi-final in 28 years. The panel asks what went wrong for Norway, and where do they go from here, and from those celebrations, are Italy getting ahead of themselves? Also today: Wafcon quarter-finals, WSL transfer news including Olivia Smith's record-breaking Arsenal move, and Jordan Nobbs's next chapter. Sign up for our weekly women's football newsletter – all you need to do is search 'Moving the Goalposts sign up' or follow this link. Support the Guardian here. You can also find Football Weekly on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Al Arabiya
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
England beats Sweden on penalties to reach Euro 2025 semifinals after dramatic comeback
Defending champion England beat Sweden on penalties Thursday to reach the semifinals of the Women's European Championship after staging a remarkable late recovery from two goals down to draw 2-2. The shootout featured some terrible penalties before England triumphed 3-2 with 18-year-old Smilla Holmberg missing the last one after Lucy Bronze had powerfully dispatched hers for the Lionesses. England had been trailing almost from the start and was 2-0 down with 12 minutes remaining before goals from Bronze and teenage substitute Michelle Agyemang took the match to extra time. It is the first time in the history of the Women's Euros that a team has fought back from two goals down in a knockout match. England will face Italy in the semifinal in Geneva on Tuesday. Sweden had topped its group with maximum points after three wins including a memorable 4-1 victory over Germany last time out and it started where it left off in Zurich. England appeared on the back foot from the off and as they tried to play it out from the back a pass rebounded off Filippa Angeldahl and came to Stina Blackstenius who teed up a completely unmarked Kosovare Asllani to slot into the bottom left corner. The goal was timed at 1 minute 46 seconds. Sweden was finding space on the right flank and exploited it again to double its lead. Blackstenius raced onto Julia Zigiotti Olme's pass and held off Jess Carter as she surged into the area and calmly dispatched the ball into the far bottom corner. England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton pulled off fine saves to deny Fridolina Rolfö and Blackstenius and keep England in the game. Chloe Kelly was brought on in the 78th minute and she had an immediate impact as she whipped in a cross from the left for Bronze to head in at the back post. And another precise cross two minutes later was nodded down for fellow substitute Agyemang to head in the equalizer. It was the 19-year-old's second goal for England on her third appearance. There were few real chances in extra time meaning that penalties would be needed to separate the sides. Both Sweden and England had won their last penalty shootouts in the round of 16 at the 2023 World Cup. Four players from each team missed their spot kicks before Bronze scored hers and Holmberg blazed over.
