England kept their UEFA Women’s Euro title defence alive with a 2-1 extra-time comeback over Italy in Geneva, Switzerland.
Chloe Kelly tucked away a 119th-minute winner on the rebound after her penalty was saved following Emma Severini’s foul on Beth Mead.
Speaking to ITV post match, Kelly described the comeback as “unbelievable” after a gutsy performance saw them achieve three major “finals on the bounce” across all competitions.
“It feels unbelievable. Such a great feeling. This team deserves nothing but that. Three finals on the bounce and we want more.”
Barbara Bonansea lashed in Italy ahead in the 33rd minute after she intercepted Lucy Bronze’s deflected clearance and put her shot away from close range.
Michelle Agyemang pulled England level in the sixth minute of second-half injury time after she pounced upon Laura Giulliani’s spilled save.
England now await the winner of Germany’s semi-final against Spain in the final at St Jakob’s Park, Basel, on Sunday 27 July at 6pm CEST (5pm UK Time).
Amidst off-pitch drama surrounding online racial abuse of Jess Carter, England began the game on the front foot but had to wait until the 11th minute for their first chance as Lauren James turned Lauren Hemp’s cross onto goal but Giulliani made an easy save.
Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses continued to pile on the early pressure as Alessia Russo dragged a 20th-minute low shot wide of the right corner on a half-turn, before James saw a shot saved by Giulliani two minutes later then turned playmaker with a cross which Hemp nodded over.
England’s wasted chances were punished in the 33rd minute through neat play up their left side between Martina Lenzini and Sofia Cantore, before Cantore’s low cross glanced off Bronze’s right knee for Bonansea to lash in from close range unmarked to put Italy ahead.
England almost found themselves level just five minutes later as a quick counter-attack saw Hemp tee up James who unleashed a low immediate shot, which Giulliani flapped away before Bronze’s cross was put behind at the left post as Italy eventually finished the half on top.
Wiegman consequently substituted James at half time due to an ankle injury and introduced Mead, which brought more life to England’s attack as Alex Greenwood saw a 49th-minute shot saved by Giulliani.
Hemp then missed a massive chance to equalise just two minutes later with a looping header from Ella Toone’s cross which flew just over the bar.
Keira Walsh and Hemp then saw chances denied a further minute later before Hannah Hampton denied Cantore to keep England’s title defence alive.
Italy’s defence however proved resilient as Walsh saw two shots denied before Greenwood hit the bar in the 65th minute from a cut-back clearance, whilst Toone fired wide five minutes later.
England continued to pile on the pressure but Italy stood firm and almost wrapped up their first place in the final since 1997, only for substitute – Martina Piemonte to nod over from a 78th-minute counter-attack cross much to England’s relief.
Hampton denied substitutes, Michela Cambiaghi and Severini in quick succession from a 86th-minute corner as Italy continued to pile on late pressure.
England however found themselves on top in seven minutes of injury time and early within the sixth additional minute, Giulliani sloppily flapped a cross down for Agyemang who calmly rifled in to restore parity and force extra time.
Aggie Beever-Jones however missed a chance to avoid a further 30 minutes after she headed Walsh’s cross narrowly wide of the left corner two minutes later.
England though were able to continue their momentum in the first half of extra time and almost snatched a lucky lead after Giulliani spilled Ella Toone’s 95th-minute cross, which left the ball rolling loosely towards goal until Julie Piga cleared it off the line.
Substitute, Kelly curled wide of the left corner two minutes later as England continued to look the more lively throughout extra time, during which Agyemang dinked a 117th-minute right-footed shot onto the crossbar.
Seconds later, Mead was brought down by Severini inside the box as the pair battled to meet a cross from the left flank which resulted in a penalty to Italy’s fury.
Kelly stepped up in the 119th minute and fired down the middle but Giulliani spilled her save and the 27-year-old calmly tucked away on the rebound to complete England’s comeback and secure a third consecutive final appearance in all competitions.
Teams
England: Hannah Hampton, Lucy Bronze, Leah Williamson (Agyemang 85′), Esme Morgan, Alex Greenwood (Carter 121′), Georgia Stanway (Kelly 77′), Keira Walsh (Clinton 105′), Ella Toone, Lauren James (Mead 46′), Alessia Russo (Beever-Jones 85′), Lauren Hemp
Substitutes: Niamh Charles, Jess Carter, Beth Mead, Maya Le Tissier, Anna Moorhouse, Grace Clinton, Michelle Agyemang, Chloe Kelly, Aggie Beever-Jones, Jess Park, Khiara Keating, Lotte Wubben-Moy
Italy: Laura Giuliani, Martina Lenzini (Piga 89′), Cecilia Salvai, Elena Linari, Lucia Di Guglielmo (Greggi 89′), Arianna Caruso, Manuela Giugliano, Barbara Bonansea (Severini 73′), Elisabetta Oliviero, Cristiana Girelli (Piemonte 64′), Sofia Cantore (Cambiaghi 72′)
Substitutes: Rachele Baldi, Valentina Bergamaschi, Lisa Boattin, Michela Cambiaghi, Francesca Durante, Eleonora Goldoni, Giada Greggi, Martina Piemonte, Julie Piga, Eva Schatzer, Annamaria Serturini, Emma Severini
Referee – Ivana Martincic (Croatia)
Attendance – 26, 539
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