Super subs fire England to Euro final

GENEVA — Chloe Kelly scored a dramatic late winner in extra time as reigning champion England came from behind to beat Italy 2-1 on Tuesday and reach the Women's Euro 2025 final.

The Lionesses had been on the brink of elimination, trailing to Barbara Bonansea's first-half strike for dark horse semifinalist Italy in Geneva.

But, after their remarkable comeback from two goals down to beat Sweden on penalties in last week's quarterfinal, they pulled off more heroics here.

Michelle Agyemang, again, came off the bench to save England, forcing extra time by equalizing in the 96th minute, before fellow substitute Kelly completed the turnaround by following in her saved penalty to score the winner in the 119th minute.

Sarina Wiegman's team is through to its third consecutive major tournament final, and the 2022 European champion heads to Basel for Sunday's showpiece in what will be either a repeat match-up of the 2023 Women's World Cup final, where it lost to Spain, or of the last Euro final, in which it defeated Germany at Wembley — those sides meet in their semi on Wednesday.

"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.

"It does feel like a movie. When it finishes like that I am enjoying it, but it was a little bit dramatic," smiled Wiegman.

"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."

It has been quite a ride for England, with this victory following its comeback against Sweden, 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.

"It hurts, but we are very proud of all that we have done," said Italy coach Andrea Soncin. "We will need a few days to overcome this bitter moment, but we will keep growing."

"The fact we were just a minute away from the final can be encouraging for us.

"Our future goal is to go to the World Cup in Brazil, so we are already looking forward."

Wiegman made one change from the quarterfinal win against Sweden, as Jess Carter was replaced by Esme Morgan in defense.

The former had been the target of racial abuse in the build-up to the game that drew a backlash from Wiegman and England's players.

England had the backing of the majority of the 26,539 crowd in Geneva, and it had the momentum in the opening stages of the match.

Agyemang again

However, Italy looked fresher and it opened the scoring on 33 minutes, as Sofia Cantore reached the right byline before delivering a cross which found Bonansea at the back post.

The Juventus player controlled the ball twice 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 its lead into the break. Wiegman then sent on Beth Mead for the second half.

Lauren Hemp headed onto the roof of the net and a long range effort from Alex Greenwood was punched away by AC Milan 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 center-back Leah Williamson in a clear sign of desperation from the England camp.

Italy could have killed the game off, but Hannah Hampton made a crucial double save to deny Michela Cambiaghi and Emma Severini at a corner in the 86th minute.

That proved crucial, as England equalized in the sixth of seven allotted added minutes at the end of regulation time.

Giuliani parried away a forceful long-distance cross into the box from the right, and the ball came out to Agyemang, who took a touch and blasted in the leveler.

Once again England faced extra time. It 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 one spot-kick, awarded when Mead was pushed over 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.

"Luckily I got there for the tap-in," Kelly told broadcaster ITV.

"Three finals on the bounce and we want more. This team shows resilience, but we fight back and, hopefully, we can make it easier for ourselves."

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.

"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."

England defender Lucy Bronze added: "We don't do things the easy way in this tournament, but we find a way to win."

AFP