Chloe Kelly scored a dramatic extra time winner as defending champions England came from behind to beat Italy 2-1 in Geneva to book their place in the European Championship finals.
Kelly had seen her last-gasp penalty saved but raced into the rebound to fire Sarina Wiegman’s side in front in the 119th minute.
England had been on the brink of heading out of the competition after Italy had led deep into stoppage time at the end of the 90 minutes. Barbara Bonansea had put the underdogs ahead in the 33rd minute after England failed to clear a cross.
Michelle Agyemang came to England’s recue by scoring in the sixth minute of stoppage time to force the match into an additional period.
The teenage substitute then struck the bar in added time, moments before England were awarded the ultimately decisive penalty for a foul on Beth Mead.
Mail Sport’s Tara Anson-Walsh rates the players after England booked their place in a third successive major final.
Chloe Kelly scored a dramatic winner to send England into the European Championship final
Michelle Agyemang scored England’s equaliser to force the semi-final into extra time
Italy had led for much of the match after Barbara Bonansea struck in the 33rd minute
England – 4-3-3
Hannah Hampton – 7
Backed up her Player of the Match quarter-final display with another confident performance. Commanded her box well and smothered an early Italy chance. Unable to do anything to keep out their early goal. England’s most consistent player this Euros.
Lucy Bronze – 5
Characteristically gung-ho defending and was lucky to get away with an early yellow card for a high leg tackle. Was caught out for a poor clearance that led to Bonansea’s goal but wasn’t entirely to blame.
Leah Williamson – 6.5
Tasked with keeping her fellow captain and Italy’s biggest goal threat Cristiana Girelli quiet and largely succeeded. Got her positioning right on the night and was often the only cool and measured head in an otherwise shaky back line.
Esme Morgan – 5
Came in for Jess Carter and was unable to offer much of an improvement. Beaten for physicality in the build-up to Italy’s opener. Uncertain with the ball in the first half but improved after the break and cut out an Italy counterattack midway through the second half.
Alex Greenwood – 5.5
Had a difficult evening wrestling with Sofia Cantore and was caught completely out of position when Le Azzurre took the lead. Main positive came from her link-up play with club teammate Lauren Hemp on the left flank but her dazzling performances at World Cup seems a long time ago.
Hannah Hampton had another superb night and has been England’s most consistent performer
Lucy Bronze poor clearance led to Bonansea’s goal the full back wasn’t entirely to blame
Esme Morgan came into England’s back line for Jess Carter but offered little improvement
Keira Walsh – 6.5
Done for pace on a number of occasions but grew into the game. Was England’s biggest attacking threat at the beginning of the second half… which says something about the Lionesses’ performance until the introduction of Agyemang and Kelly given Walsh has scored just twice in her 91 appearances.
Ella Toone – 5.5
Did lots of running with little to show for it. Was visibly frustrated when the half-time whistle blew, shaking her head before running off the pitch. Her usual link-up play with Russo was missing but was still important defensively.
Georgia Stanway – 5.5
Had a similar performance to Toone, putting in another tireless performance between the boxes and managing to pick out a couple of good passes for the Lionesses to counter-attack but hasn’t looked like scoring this tournament. Withdrawn for Chloe Kelly.
Lauren James – 4.5
Struggled to make an impact once again and wasted a good chance to score from close-range. Has looked pretty off it the last few games likely linked to a huge amount of game time after three months away. Seen putting ice on her foot after the break.
Alessia Russo – 5.5
Gifted an early chance to give England the lead but sent it wide. Nine times out of 10 Russo would have buried it but that has, unfortunately, been the story of her tournament. Irreplaceable in the build-up but a glaring absence of end product and too isolated up front.
Lauren Hemp – 6
England’s brightest spark in the early stages of the game but lacked her usual composure in front of goal, missing two headed chances. Redeemed herself with the ball into the Italian goalkeeper Laura Giuliani which was spilled for Michelle Agyemang’s goal.
Lauren James struggled to make an impact again and was seen icing her foot after the break
Alessia Russo has been irreplaceable in build-up but has had a glaring absence of end product
Lauren Hemp missed two headed chances but redeemed herself with her cross for the leveller
Substitutes: Mead (6, 45min), Kelly (9, 77min), Agyemang (8, 85min) Beever-Jones (7, 85min), Clinton (6, 105min), Carter (5, 121min)
Not used: Charles, Le Tissier, Moorhouse, Park, Wubben-Moy.
Sarina Wiegman – 6
Opted to twist and start Esme Morgan after Jess Carter’s difficult night in the quarter-final against Sweden to little effect. Has seen something in Michelle Agyemang and her faith repaid in dividends. Can always rely on Chloe Kelly to get her out of a scrape and is now through to a fifth consecutive major tournament final…
Referee: Ivana Martincic – 6.
Attendance: 23, 539.
