Super subs save the day again as England go through to Women's Euro 2025 final
Trailing 1-0 deep into second-half stoppage time against Italy in their semi-final, the defending champions looked beaten, but Agyemang levelled to force extra time and Kelly snatched the winner to seal England's place in the final in Basel on July 27.
For the second game in a row, the pair came on and proved decisive, and with Beth Mead also impressing from among the ranks of the replacements, England coach Sarina Wiegman has some welcome selection problems ahead of the decider against either Germany or Spain.
Just as she did against Sweden in the quarter-final, Agyemang came off the bench to equalise, and though that game went to a penalty shoot-out, this time Kelly needed only the rebound from one late spot kick to send her side through.
Will the duo start in the final? Or are they better off the bench?
Agyemang has been a colossus for England in her substitute appearances to date, providing power, physicality and a nose for goal when they need it most – not bad for a 19-year-old who was a ball girl for an England game at Wembley only four years ago.
Kelly's wing work has been equally exemplary, her unshakeable confidence allowing her to persistently create chances and change every game she entered.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore S'pore's domestic recycling rate drops to all time low of 11%
Singapore HDB launches 10,209 BTO and balance flats, as priority scheme for singles kick in
Business Singapore's digital banks finding their niche in areas like SMEs as they narrow losses in 2024
Asia Japan Prime Minister Ishiba to resign by August, Mainichi newspaper reports
World Trump says US will charge 19% tariff on goods from Philippines, down from 20%
Singapore Two found dead after fire in Toa Payoh flat
Singapore 2 foreigners arrested for shop theft at Changi Airport
Singapore Ports and planes: The 2 Singapore firms helping to keep the world moving
Their contributions were vital. Italy defended with a mix of heroism, wisdom and cynicism that looked to be enough to see them into the final for the first time since 1997.
The Italians had done superbly, making sure their clearances went to a teammate or out to the wings to lessen the danger and they presented the England players with a solid block in the middle, inviting them to shoot from distance.
Their strategy of compressing space and denying angled balls behind their defence effectively restricted England's attack, limiting striker Alessia Russo to a handful of touches in the box.
But the introduction of Agyemang and her combination of skill and physicality gave England a more direct weapon, and with Kelly marauding down the wings, the reigning champions suddenly looked to have a sliver of hope.
Italy goalkeeper Laura Giuliani spilled the cross that Agyemang snapped up and converted into an equaliser, and she saved from Kelly's extra-time penalty, but could do nothing to prevent her from steering home the rebound as the super subs struck again to save England.
'We're going to make a movie some day! Well, this is a movie, my goodness, it's unbelievable. Here we are again, it's really, really special,' an elated Wiegman said, praising her supporting cast for their blockbuster ending.
One more match to go, before the Lionesses can officially call it their Hollywood campaign. REUTERS
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
6 hours ago
- Straits Times
Saka the difference as Arsenal beat AC Milan at National Stadium
Arsenal's Bukayo Saka (in blue) scored the only goal in his side's win over Italian side AC Milan at the National Stadium on July 23. SINGAPORE – Much of the pre-season buzz surrounding Arsenal has centered on their activity in the transfer market and pursuit of Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres as the final piece of the jigsaw in their hunt for major honours. At the National Stadium on July 23, though, a graduate of the club's Hale End academy again underscored his status as Arsenal's talisman. England star Bukayo Saka showcased his flair and finesse in front of a crowd of 22,813 fans, and scored the only goal as Arsenal began their pre-season campaign with a 1-0 win over Italian giants AC Milan. Saka – who received the loudest cheers of the night when the team sheet was announced before kickoff – was handed the captain's armband until club skipper Martin Odegaard was introduced as a half-time substitute. After a goalless first half, Saka was on hand at the right place and right time in the 52nd minute – just as he has on numerous occasions since he debuted for Arsenal in 2018 – to find the net. A whipped in cross from defender Jakub Kiwior picked out Saka, who escaped his marker at the back post before applying a scuffed finish that found its way into the net. The strike drew the loudest decibels of the night from the Arsenal fans – who made up a majority of those in attendance – up on their feet to rejoice as Saka celebrated with his teammates. Saka, who netted 12 goals last season for Arsenal, was then brought off in the 66th minute for 15-year-old Max Dowman – another Hale End product – whom Arsenal fans and Arteta will hope can be the next gem to emerge from the club's academy. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Judge asks prosecution for more information on Kpods in first case involving etomidate-laced vapes Singapore Male victim of fatal Toa Payoh fire was known to keep many things, say residents Singapore HDB launches 10,209 BTO and balance flats, as priority scheme for singles kicks in Singapore 5 teens arrested for threatening boy with knife, 2 charged with causing hurt Singapore Singapore's domestic recycling rate drops to all-time low of 11% Singapore Cyclist charged after allegedly hitting elderly pedestrian, killing him Singapore Money, housing and isolation the biggest struggles for youth leaving children's homes: Study Singapore Sota's parents portal taken down for urgent patching following global cyberattack alerts The Milan-Arsenal clash – both sides' first official match of their pre-season – is part of the 2025 Singapore Festival of Football, which is the first instalment in a five-year partnership between promoters TEG Sport and the Singapore Tourism Board that will see top European clubs play in Singapore in 2025, 2027 and 2029. The Gunners faithful will next be able to catch their heroes in the flesh when Arsenal conduct an open training session on July 25, before they face English League Cup champions Newcastle United two days later, both at the National Stadium. The Singapore Festival of Football was last held in July 2023, when Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester City and German giants Bayern Munich played a series of friendlies at the National Stadium. Bayern beat Liverpool 4-3 in front of a 49,983 crowd then, while 25,095 spectators witnessed Spurs' 5-1 win over Singapore Premier League outfit Lion City Sailors. This is Milan's first visit to Singapore, while Arsenal last came in 2018 for the International Champions Cup, where they faced Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid. Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta named a strong starting line-up that featured debutant German forward Kai Havertz, Brazilian winger Gabriel Martinelli, French centre-back William Saliba and Christian Norgaard, a summer signing from Brentford. Milan meanwhile had their stars on show too with Portugal winger Rafael Leao captaining a side that included American winger Christian Pulisic and former Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori. The opening 45 minutes, however, offered little excitement apart from fleeting moments of brilliance from Saka and the silky footwork of teenage midfielder Ethan Nwaneri. Arteta then made six changes at half-time with Arsenal finding the eventual winner seven minutes after the break.
Straits Times
7 hours ago
- Straits Times
England teammates sing praises of young saviour Agyemang
GENEVA - England's newest hero Michelle Agyemang had her teammates singing her praises after her last-gasp equaliser saved the defending champions from certain elimination, saying the sky is the limit for the 19-year-old. Three months after she made her senior team debut, and four years removed from being a ball girl for her now teammates, Agyemang struck in the sixth minute of stoppage time against Italy on Tuesday en route to a 2-1 victory in extra time, the second consecutive game she has saved England at the brink. The Lionesses meet either Spain or Germany in the final on Sunday. "She's an unbelievable player and she's got the world at her feet, a young player with a bright future and I'm absolutely buzzing for her," said Chloe Kelly, who smashed home the rebound of her own penalty kick in extra time to secure the victory. Agyemang is a skilled bulldozer of a striker with a nose for the net and no fear of battling for possession. "You see it when she comes on," England defender Lucy Bronze said. "Defenders are petrified of her." "She feels inevitable right now," added captain Leah Williamson. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Singapore's domestic recycling rate drops to all-time low of 11% Singapore Male victim of fatal Toa Payoh fire was known to keep many things, say residents Singapore HDB launches 10,209 BTO and balance flats, as priority scheme for singles kicks in Singapore 5 teens arrested for threatening boy with knife, 2 charged with causing hurt Singapore Money, housing and isolation the biggest struggles for youth leaving children's homes: Study Singapore Sota parent portal taken down for urgent patching following global cyberattack alerts Singapore COE prices for cars mostly unchanged; premium for commercial vehicles up 2.9% Singapore Cyclist charged after allegedly hitting elderly pedestrian, killing him A ball girl at Wembley for an England World Cup qualifier in 2021, Agyemang made her England senior debut three months ago against Belgium, scoring 41 seconds after she ran onto the pitch, the first of three goals in four caps. She said being mobbed by her teammates on Tuesday "will live in my heart forever". "It means the world to me. I'm so grateful," she added. "Four years ago I was a kid just throwing a ball to some of these girls and now I'm playing with them. It's a great opportunity and I'm so happy I am here." England coach Sarina Wiegman was certainly happy with her youngest Lioness on Tuesday. Agyemang, who also scored a late equaliser in their quarter-final win over Sweden, almost secured the victory in extra time at Stade de Geneve when her cute lob from a tight angle came back off the crossbar. "She has something special. She's only 19 years old, she's very mature, she knows exactly what she has to do," Wiegman said. "When we have to go to her as a target player, she keeps the ball really well. Even when you saw her hit the crossbar, that was not just a shot, she was aiming for it. If she continues like this she has a very bright future." Agyemang's impact in England's two knockout games now has fans wondering whether the teenager will see more of the pitch in the final. Sunday's match in Basel marks the third consecutive final appearance in a major tournament for England, while Wiegman is the first coach in men's or women's football to reach five consecutive finals. REUTERS
Straits Times
8 hours ago
- Straits Times
Italy benefit from domestic developments despite England loss
GENEVA - Italy were within touching distance of a first Women's Euro final since 1997 until a stunning England comeback derailed their dream, but the Italians can look forward to a bright future as they reap the benefits of a more professional approach. The country's top flight for women went fully professional for the 2022-23 season and the effects of that change could be seen on the field as they led reigning European champions England 1-0 until the 96th minute before losing 2-1 in extra time. The Italian players never wilted under the English onslaught and though they lack a bench as deep in talent as the one available to Sarina Wiegman, their replacements performed admirably despite the defeat. "Before the tournament people said we could not get past the group stage, but in the end we were one minute from the final. The players deserved a better ending but sometimes you don't get what you deserve. There is pride amid this bitter defeat -- this hurts but you have to be proud," Italy coach Andrea Soncin told reporters. The 46-year-old has worn his heart on his sleeve throughout the tournament and he paid tribute to how the women's game has developed over the last few years in Italy. "When I started with this group, the main goal was to constantly monitor the players so we could increase the internal competitiveness, and this has given us a lot of benefits," he explained. "We study what the clubs are doing and they are investing a lot, so we have a lot of confidence for the future." That work is already paying off at under-age level, providing a pipeline of promising players to the senior team as they seek to build on their success in Switzerland, which is building a fan base across the gender divide. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Singapore's domestic recycling rate drops to all-time low of 11% Singapore Male victim of fatal Toa Payoh fire was known to keep many things, say residents Singapore HDB launches 10,209 BTO and balance flats, as priority scheme for singles kicks in Singapore 5 boys between ages 12 and 15 arrested for threatening boy with knife, 2 charged with causing hurt Singapore Money, housing and isolation the biggest struggles for youth leaving children's homes: Study Singapore Sota parent portal taken down for urgent patching following global cyberattack alerts Singapore COE prices for cars mostly unchanged; premium for commercial vehicles up 2.9% Singapore Cyclist charged after allegedly hitting elderly pedestrian, killing him "In Italy, clubs are developing very well. Our youth football is growing, which requires time. This year the U17s and the U19s got to the (Euro) semi-finals and this is a symptom of what is coming. The fruits will come in the long term," Soncin said. "For sure, many girls but also boys have become passionate about women's football. In future years, these boys will respect women who want to play football." REUTERS
