England strike late again to beat Italy, reach Euro 2025 final

England are living on the brink but survived another near-inevitable elimination all the way to another Women's European Championship final.

The defending champions broke Italy's hearts -- twice -- in a 2-1 win after extra time in their semifinal on Tuesday.

Chloe Kelly scored the decisive goal in the 119th minute, firing home the rebound after Italy goalkeeper Laura Giuliani saved her penalty kick.

Italy were forced into extra time only because another substitute, Michelle Agyemang, leveled the game deep into stoppage time.

Kelly and Agyemang also were crucial for England in another great escape in the quarterfinals against Sweden.

England will now have the chance to defend their title in Sunday's final in Basel against either Spain or Germany. Spain and Germany meet Wednesday in Zurich.

"Yeah, we don't know if it's the easy way it seems this tournament, but we find a way to win," England defender Lucy Bronze said. We just found a way to get the goals and get the ball [in] the last minute."

England, World Cup runners-up to Spain in 2023, have now reached the final in three straight major tournaments. Coach Sarina Wiegman, meanwhile, has the chance to win three consecutive Women's Euro titles after leading her native Netherlands to glory in 2017.

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

With the Italians riding a wave of confidence after a last-minute winner against Norway in their quarterfinal, they defended brilliantly and attacked incisively on the break.

Their persistence paid off in the 33rd minute of a gritty semifinal when a ball from the right found its way to Barbara Bonansea, who took a touch before lashing it into the roof of the net.

England then dominated possession and created a slew of chances as the Italians rode their luck, but too often the English attackers unleashed shots from distance that were easily dealt with or flew harmlessly over the bar.

With their hopes of defending their title slowly slipping away, 19-year-old Agyemang snapped up a loose ball in the box and fired home to send the game to extra time. Agyemang also had scored a crucial late equalizing goal in England's quarterfinal win over Sweden. England had trailed 2-0 after 78 minutes then survived a chaotic penalty shootout.

Agyemang almost scored again with an effort deep into the second half of extra time, out-sprinting and out-muscling the Italian defence only to see her deft lob towards goal bounce back off the crossbar.

Sensing that they could avoid a repeat of their quarterfinal penalty shootout against Sweden, England poured forward and reaped their reward when Beth Mead tangled with substitute Emma Severini in the box.

Kelly took her usual prancing run-up, but Italy keeper Giuliani kept her nerve and saved, only for the England winger to score from the follow-up and seal her side's spot in Sunday's final.

It was the latest match-winner in Women's Euro history, eclipsing Eve Perisse's 102nd-minute goal for the Netherlands against France in the 2022 quarterfinals.

"I just tried my best for the team. It wasn't supposed to go like that, that penalty, but [I was] ready for the rebound and ready for any opportunity given to me wearing an England badge," a delighted Kelly said.

For Italy, who had defended superbly until England's equaliser, the loss was a devastating blow.

"Obviously, going out like this hurts a lot," coach Andrea Soncin said. "Having stood up to the champions should give us a lot of confidence for the future. There are no words to describe the emotions we have experienced on this journey," 

"This evening, for as hard as the girls fought, we definitely deserved a different ending. Many difficult situations to comment on. It's sad, but I am and we are very proud."

Information from Reuters, The Associated Press and ESPN Research was used in this report.

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