England are heading to another European Championship final, and it is an Arsenal teenager who helped get them there.
Michelle Agyemang levelled the semi-final against Italy deep into stoppage time before Chloe Kelly won it 2-1 in extra time.
Kelly’s penalty was saved by Laura Giuliani, but she scored from the rebound in the 119th minute to break Italian hearts.
Agyemang had already taken the match to extra time, just as she did against Sweden in the quarter-final, rifling home in the 96th minute, just 11 minutes after coming on.
“When it finishes like this I am enjoying it but it’s a little bit dramatic,” said England coach Sarina Wiegman, who has still never been eliminated from the tournament.
Italy had led from the 33rd minute after a superb finish from Barbara Bonansea and were seconds from reaching their first European final. “It’s a bitter defeat because we were one minute away from the final,” admitted Italy coach Andrea Soncin.
“But we have to be proud.”
At 19, Agyemang is quickly establishing herself as one of England’s most important attacking options. Her third goal in just her fourth national team game was also her second crucial equaliser in the Euro 2025 knockout rounds.
Agyemang almost won the game herself when her delicate lob in extra time clipped the bar. “I think that gave us a new lease of energy,” said Kelly. “When your forward is doing that, it’s special.”
England will now face either Spain or Germany in Sunday’s final in Basel, seeking to defend the title they won at Wembley in 2022.