Comeback goals from Ella Toone and Georgia Stanway fired England to a 2-1 victory over Spain in extra-time to reach 2022 UEFA Women’s Euro Semi-Finals.
Spain dominated a scrappy first half but snatched a 54th minute lead as Esther Gonzalez fired in from close range.
England substitutes, Alessia Russo and Toone combined in the 84th minute for the hosts’ equaliser, as Russo delivered a knockdown header for Toone to sweep in from close-range to force extra time.
Stanway ultimately proved England’s saviour as she drove forward in the 96th minute and smashed in a clinical winner from the edge of the box.
England will face the winner of Sweden’s Quarter-Final tie against Belgium at Bramall Lane, Sheffield, in the opening semi-final on Tuesday 26 July.
Pre-match, England were buoyed by the return in the dugout of manager – Sarina Wiegman, who had missed their 5-0 win over Northern Ireland in their final group match in self-isolation, following a positive Coronavirus test.
Spain however enjoyed the better start as Teresa Abelleira forced a third minute save from Mary Earps.
England soon began to settle and created their first opportunity three minutes later as Fran Kirby played an one-two with Beth Mead up the right, only for the latter to be offside.
Marta Cardona and Ellen White then both put efforts wide for Spain and English respectively in seventh and ninth minutes respectively, although the Spanish would soon settle on top in control of possession.
Mariona Caldentey saw shots saved by Earps and Rachel Daly whilst Patricia Guijarro flicked a 20th minute free-kick wide across goal.
England though stuck in defensively despite looking shaky during several set pieces as they constantly denied Spain, whilst White saw a 37th minute strike ruled out after Lucy Bronze had bolted too early into the box from a free-kick.
Lauren Hemp then headed wide from Rachel Daly’s cross three minutes later as England ultimately clung on to keep the match goalless at half-time, as Spain failed to clinically maximise their chances throughout the first half.
Wiegman opted at half-time to stick with her starting eleven whilst Spain replaced Cardona with Athenea del Castillo, yet it was the Lionesses who started the second-half best despite an on-pitch protestor briefly disrupting proceedings in the 47th minute.
England’s early second-half dominance almost paid off two minutes later but White was again offside as she flicked Bronze’s cross wide, whilst Bronze’s cross across the box a minute later evaded everyone.
Spain however found their clinical edge in the 54th minute as Del Castillo picked up a pass and beat a high-speed run from Daly, which left her free to cut in and tee up Gonzalez to rifle a scrappy shot into the bottom left-corner to put the Spaniards ahead.
Wiegman responded to England’s first conceded goal of the tournament by substituting Mead and White for Chloe Kelly and Russo in the 58th minute.
That decision almost paid off two minutes later as Russo flicked a header forward for Hemp who was clattered to ground by Ona Batlle inside the box, only for French referee – Stephanie Frappart to controversially rule that Hemp hadn’t won a penalty.
Wiegman opted for one further change as Toone was brought on in the 64th minute after Bronze headed wide from a corner two minutes earlier.
Del Castillo however nearly doubled Spain’s lead in the 65th minute as she whipped in a deep cross from the right flank towards top left corner, only for Earps to make a crucial flick which led to an eventual clearance.
Daly then saw a 67th minute strike saved by Sandra Panos before Hemp fired over nine minutes later after a few shots inside the box from various players were blocked.
England though had to weather further Spanish attacks until the 84th minute when Hemp carved open a chance to curl in a short cross, which Russo nodded down for her Manchester United teammate – Ella Toone to pounce and rifle in from close range to equalise.
Caldentey almost restored Spain’s lead a minute later as she unleashed a long-range strike towards the top left corner, which Earps comfortably saved in front of a tense crowd amidst frustrations from Spain’s dugout at Toone’s equaliser.
England responded to Spain’s anger by upping their intensity as Hemp headed Bronze’s 90th minute cross wide, which proved to be the last meaningful chance despite an injury-time corner being cleared on multiple occasions as the match headed to extra time.
Following team talks, England made the stronger start to extra-time as Walsh played through Hemp who was forced to roll the ball behind, due to a well-timed block from Maria Leon.
The Lionesses soon continued to push forward and frustrate their Spanish opposition, with their efforts paying dividends in the 96th minute as Stanway blasted in from just outside the box after she picked up Walsh’s short pass.
Spain consequently responded by piling on the pressure as England defended hard but Laia Aleixandri nodded wide from a 104th minute cross by Sheila Garcia, which ensured that the tournament hosts led at half-time in extra-time.
As tension swept across Brighton’s AMEX Stadium ahead of the second half of extra-time, Spain flew out of the traps on the restart as Aitana Bonmati fired wide from Garcia’s pass.
England eventually weathered Spain’s desperate attacks despite losing Walsh to a potential muscle injury in the 116th minute, as the Lionesses booked a fourth consecutive semi-final appearance in all major international tournaments and their first under Wiegman.
Speaking post-match to BBC One, Stanway said: “Unreal. That shows the level we’re at. We get a setback and we come back. Job done. Focus on the semis.
“I wasn’t too sure [if the shot was going in]. It’s one to be proud of. I’ll remember today. We put in a massive shift. We just have to enjoy this moment and crack on.”
Teams
England: Mary Earps, Lucy Bronze, Rachel Daly (Greenwood 82′), Millie Bright, Leah Williamson, Keira Walsh (Scott 116′), Georgia Stanway, Fran Kirby (Toone 64′), Lauren Hemp (Parris 117′), Ellen White (Russo 58′), Beth Mead (Kelly 58′)
Substitutes: Alex Greenwood, Jess Carter, Jill Scott, Nikita Parris, Chloe Kelly, Bethany England, Ella Toone, Ellie Roebuck, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Alessia Russo
Spain: Sandra Panos, Ona Batlle, Irene Paredes, Maria Leon, Olga Carmona, Aitana Bonmati, Patricia Guijarro, Teresa Abelleira (Aleixandri 71′), Marta Cardona (del Castillo 45′), Esther Gonzalez (S.Garcia 77′), Mariona Caldentey (Sarriegi 100′)
Substitutes: Dolores Gallardo, Laia Aleixandri, Ivana Andres, Irene Guerrero, Athenea del Castillo, Amaiur Sarriegi, Leila Ouahabi, Lucia Garcia, Andrea Pereira, Sheila Garcia, Claudia Pina, Misa Rodriguez
Referee: Stephanie Frappart (France)
Attendance: 28,994
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