Chloe Kelly’s Dramatic Extra-Time Winner Sends England into Women’s Euro 2025 Final

Match Summary

On Tuesday, England secured a remarkable comeback to beat Italy 2-1 in extra time and book their place in the Women’s Euro 2025 final. After trailing 1-0 to Barbara Bonansea’s first-half goal, the Lionesses mounted a thrilling revival. Substitute Michelle Agyemang equalised in the 96th minute, sending the game to extra time, before another substitute, Chloe Kelly, scored the decisive goal in the 119th minute to seal the win.

England’s Resilience Shines Again

The reigning champions’ victory in Geneva came despite the odds being stacked against them, with Italy having taken the lead in the first half. England’s determination and fighting spirit – a theme carried over from their dramatic penalty win over Sweden in the quarter-finals – shone through once again. Kelly’s dramatic winner was especially poignant, as her penalty had earlier been saved, but she followed up with a tap-in to send England to their third consecutive major tournament final.

Match Breakdown

First Half:

Italy dominated early on, and their first real chance came in the 33rd minute when Sofia Cantore whipped in a cross from the right, and Barbara Bonansea finished powerfully into the top corner, giving Italy a well-deserved 1-0 lead.
England had a few half-chances, with Alessia Russo and Lauren James coming closest, but Italy went into the break with the advantage.

Second Half:

Sarina Wiegman made a tactical change at half-time, bringing on Beth Mead. England’s attack became more potent, with Lauren Hemp heading over and Alex Greenwood testing goalkeeper Laura Giuliani with a long-range shot. Despite pressure, Italy’s defence held firm, and Giuliani was booked for time-wasting as the game grew tense.

With time running out, Wiegman turned to her bench once more, bringing on Chloe Kelly and Michelle Agyemang, both of whom had played pivotal roles in England’s quarter-final win.
Italy were inches away from sealing the match in the 86th minute, but England’s goalkeeper Hannah Hampton made a crucial double save, denying Michela Cambiaghi and Emma Severini.

Equaliser and Extra Time:

The dramatic equaliser came in the sixth minute of added time. An awkward cross from the right was spilled by Giuliani, and Agyemang latched onto the rebound, smashing the ball into the net to level the score at 1-1.

As the match moved into extra time, England started to dominate. Giuliani saved well from a Kelly corner at 108 minutes, while Agyemang struck the crossbar with a lobbed effort. With penalties looming, Chloe Kelly would have the final word. In the 119th minute, Beth Mead was fouled in the area, and Kelly’s penalty was initially saved. However, she reacted quickly, following up to tap in the rebound and secure England’s place in the final.

Post-Match Reactions:

After the match, Chloe Kelly spoke about her dramatic moment:
“Luckily I got there for the tap-in,” she told 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.”

Lucy Bronze, reflecting on the team’s journey, added:
“We don’t do things the easy way in this tournament, but we find a way to win.”

Italy’s Heartbreaking Defeat

While England celebrated, Italy’s players were visibly devastated. They had put in a brave performance, but their dream of reaching a first final since 1997 was cruelly dashed. Many Italian players were in tears as they struggled to comprehend the heartbreak of losing in the final moments after such a promising tournament run.

Tactical Notes:

England’s Substitutes proved to be a match-winning factor once again, with both Agyemang and Kelly making decisive contributions.

Italy, despite holding onto their lead for most of the match, were unable to sustain their defensive resilience as England’s relentless pressure mounted.

Looking Ahead:

England now face the winner of the semi-final between Germany and Spain, which will take place on Wednesday. With their victory in the bag, England will be aiming to defend their European title and secure yet another major international trophy on Sunday in Basel.

Upcoming Semi-Final:

Germany vs Spain
Date: Wednesday
Time: 19:00 GMT

England’s Road to the Final:

Quarter-final: England beat Sweden (penalties after a 1-1 draw)

Semi-final: England beat Italy 2-1 (after extra time)

Next match: Women’s Euro 2025 Final
Date: Sunday, [insert date]
Venue: Basel, Switzerland