England was 1-0 in the first semi-final in Geneva in the first semifinal, but far in injury time of the regular playing time it was still right by substitute Michelle Agyemang: 1-1. A few minutes before the end of the second extension, the English received a penalty. This opportunity was used by substitute Chloe Kelly: 2-1.
The opening phase was for England. After ten minutes there was a first chance for Lauren James, the striker who scored twice against Oranje in the tournament. The first real big chance was for Alissia Russo. He turned nicely away in the 20th minute, but her shot went wide.
Barbara Bonansea is overjoyed with her opening goal against England. © AFP
After more than half an hour of play, Underdog Italy took the lead surprisingly. The first the best chance was immediately hit. Barbara Bonansea shot the ball hard in the roof of the goal: 1-0. It seemed the winning for a long time.
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After the break there was immediately more life in the brewery than in the first half. England pressed the accelerator pedal. In the 52nd minute there was a big chance of the equalizer, but Lauren Hemp decided to head himself instead of covering the ball on the completely detached Alessia Russo.
Injury Cristiana Girelli
A damper for Italy after more than an hour of play was the dropout of Cristiana Girelli. The captain, with two hits the big star at ‘Le Azzurre’ in the quarterfinals against Norway, had to go off the field with an injury.
With ten minutes left, there was suddenly a great opportunity for the Wiegman team. But a header from Lucy Bronze was taken off the line. Time began to penetrate for the English. Wiegman brought Michelle Agyemang and Aggie Beever-Jones for Williamson and Russo in the 85th minute, after she had previously taken Georgia Stanway off in the favor of Chloe Kelly.
Michelle Agyemang (left) signed far in the extra time for the 1: 1. © ANP/HH
Substitute Michelle Agyemang Saving Angel
The fresh forces made the difference. Because in the ‘Dying Seconds’ there was suddenly the equalizer there. It was the only 19-year-old substitute Agyemang who, cold in the field, signed for the 1-1. It led to a joy explosion in the stands and with her coach. Also in the extension the teenager was extremely dangerous, including a subtle lob that splashed on the bar.
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Chloe Kelly
With a few minutes to go in the second extension, England still pulled the longest. Chloe Kelly signed a substitute from eleven meters before the winning goal, after an awkward Italian violation on Beth Mead. Kelly initially saw her penalty stopped by the outstanding goalie Laura Giuliani, but shot the rebound in the ropes: 2-1. It was the Supersub from London who had also scored the winning goal in the European Championship final against Germany three years ago.
On Wednesday evening, England knows who the opponent is in the final battle, which will be on the roll of Sunday (6 pm) in Basel in St. Jakob Park. Tournament favorite Spain and the battered Germany compete in Zurich for the last final ticket.