Chloe Kelly fired within the decisive spot-kick as England beat Spain 3-1 in a penalty shootout to win Euro 2025 on Sunday, efficiently defending the title they received three years in the past after an enthralling recreation that ended 1-1 after further time.
It was one other spectacular turnaround from Sarina Wiegman’s aspect, who got here again from two objectives all the way down to beat Sweden in a shootout within the final eight and beat Italy within the semifinals with one other further time objective from Kelly.
World and Nations League champions Spain made the breakthrough within the twenty fifth minute as Ona Batlle crossed and caught the England defence flat-footed, permitting Mariona Caldentey to go the ball previous goalkeeper Hannah Hampton.
With Lauren James struggling an ankle harm, England have been struggling, however Kelly got here off the bench to exchange her simply earlier than the break and it proved an impressed substitution.
Kelly helped shut down England’s porous left flank and offered the cross for Alessia Russo to degree within the 57th minute, the ahead heading house her inch-perfect help.
Spain continued to monopolise the ball however couldn’t discover one other objective earlier than the tip of regular time, and the story continued by means of further time as they pressed and probed, however couldn’t break the English defence as the sport completed 1-1.
Florencia Tan Jun – UEFA/UEFA by way of Getty Photos
The Spaniards bought the shootout off to an ideal begin when Cata Coll stopped Beth Mead‘s effort, however England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton saved from Caldentey and from Aitana Bonmatí to place England within the driving seat.
Coll bought Spain again into it with one other one-handed cease to dam Leah Williamson, however Spain substitute Salma Paralluelo hit her kick large of the goal.
That set the stage for Kelly to repeat her 2022 heroics, when she scored the extra-time winner over Germany that received them the title at Wembley.
Kelly made her trademark prancing run-up earlier than smashing the ball into the web and peeling away in ecstasy to have fun together with her teammates in entrance of the England followers.
“I am so proud, so happy with this crew, so grateful to put on this badge, and I am so proud to be English … I used to be cool, I used to be composed and I knew I used to be going to hit the again of the web,” Kelly stated.
The ultimate was the primary time for the reason that inaugural version in 1984, by which England have been overwhelmed by Sweden, that the sport was determined by a penalty shootout.
“Unbelievable, unimaginable, displaying all through this match we will come again after we go a objective down, and we now have that grit,” an elated Hampton stated.
“We have got English blood in us, so we by no means say die and we simply preserve going, and we did that at the moment.”
For Spain’s Bonmati, the defeat was bitter.
“I haven’t got a lot emotion left to be trustworthy. I’ve emptied myself of emotion. We’re all exhausted,” she stated.
“I’ve to apologize, as a result of it was my fault ultimately, however I used to be not in a position to rating it [the penalty]. Congratulations to our opponents. For my part we have been superior within the match, [but] on some events, that is not sufficient in soccer.”