Girelli brace sinks Norway as Italy reach women's Euros semi-finals
Geneva
Captain Cristiana Girelli headed a 90th-minute winner to complete a brace as Italy beat Norway 2-1 to reach the semi-finals of women's Euro 2025 on Wednesday.
Girelli struck in off the crossbar as the game seemed to head into extra time after Norway captain Ada Hegerberg had in the 66th minute cancelled out Girelli's first goal in the 50th.
Former Ballon d'Or winner Hegerberg, who has come under criticism for playing a poor tournament, missed a penalty for the second time at the event on the hour but partially made amends with the equalizer.
Twice champions Norway had won all of their group matches but it was Italy, who had advanced with just one victory from the group stage, to reach the semis for the first time since 1997 - after failing to advance into the knock-outs at the last two editions.
In the semis, again in Geneva, Italy face title holders England or Sweden, who meet on Thursday. The other quarter-finals are hosts Switzerland v world champions and top favourites Spain, and France v record champions Germany.
Italian joy and Hegerberg disappointment 'It is unbelievable, incredibly nice. We awarded ourselves for the development over the past years,' Italy coach Andrea Soncin said.
'It is a huge honour, we are so proud to be in the semi-finals again.
The girls have grown and achieved something extraordinary.' Hegerberg told TV2 'it sucks, it really sucks,' but she added that 'I am proud of the group and how we performed.'
Looking at her penalty miss, she said 'it's tough' and 'not good enough.' Italy start well bfore Norway respond Italy had the brighter start as Arianna Caruso aimed inches right in the eighth minute, Emma Severini and Girelli were in each other's way to meet a sharp cross to the near post in the 19th, and three minutes later goalkeeper Cecilie Fiskerstrand saved from Severini.
Norway threatened late in the half when Thea Bjelde's sharp cross was crucially deflected by defender Elena Linari against the knee of Hegerberg who had been ready to tap in.
And in the 45th Signe Gaupset saw that Italy keeper Laura Giuliani had strayed far out of her goal and aimed just wide right from more than 40m.
Opening goal, offside and penalty miss Italy broke the deadlock five minutes after the restart when Girelli flicked home Sofia Cantore's sharp cross from the right.
The ball was in Norway's net again three minutes later after a major scramble but Caruso was ruled offside in the build-up.
It wasn't 2-0, but it then wasn't 1-1 either on the hour because Hegerberg failed to find the target from the spot after she was pushed down by Linari - missing wide right this time after firing wide left against the Swiss in the tournament opener a fortnight ago.
Hegerberg redeems herself but Girelli has last laugh Hegerberg made up for it when she ran behind Norway's defence to convert a long ball from Maren Mjelde and scored the equalizer from a right ankle past the hesitating Giuliani.
The goal boosted Norway who came close from Ingrid Syrstad Engen's curling shot in the 86th.
But Italy stole victory at the death when Cantore's floating cross from the left found Girelli at the far post to nod the winner.
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