Lionesses leave it very late to earn yet another final spot

SUPER-SUB Chloe Kelly fired England into the Euro 2025 final in extra time as the defending champions completed another spectacular comeback to beat Italy 2-1 in Geneva.

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Barbara Bonansea stunned the England support into silence when she opened the scoring in the 33rd minute for the underdog Italians, who had reached their first European semifinal in 28 years.

The Lionesses, in their sixth straight major tournament final four appearance, were on the brink of elimination when 19-year-old Michelle Agyemang once again came off the bench and rescued Sarina Wiegman’s side with a second-half stoppage-time equaliser.

England were gifted a penalty late in the second period of extra time and, though Kelly's initial attempt was saved, the Arsenal forward made no mistake with her second opportunity when she emphatically buried the rebound.

It was all cruel on unheralded Italy, which had led since Bonansea’s rasping volleyed shot in the 33rd minute.

England will now defend their title in Sunday's final in Basel against either Spain or Germany. Spain and Germany meet this evening in Zurich.

For the second time in six days, England had stared down what looked an inevitable exit and survived into extra time.