by England survived afraid and struck Italy in the semi-finals on Tuesday 2-1 to keep their women’s euro title defense alive. The lionesses came from behind twice and avoid the almost eliminated instructions to get to another final. Italy’s hopes were overthrown in an exciting, heartbreaking collision.
England lives on the edge and has survived another almost clear elimination to the final of the European Championship of another women.
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The defending champion broke Italy twice in a 2-1 win after the semi-finals were extended on Tuesday.
Chloe Kelly scored the decisive goal in the 119th minute and only shot the rebound home after the Italian goalkeeper Laura Giuliani saved her penalty kick.
Italy was only forced to extend because a different replacement, Michelle Agyemang, got the game deep into the interruption.
Kelly and Agyemang were also of crucial importance for England in another great escape in the quarter -finals against Sweden.
It was all so cruel on the unannounced Italy that had been in the 33rd minute since Barbara Bonanasa’s Rassing Volley.
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England will now defend his title in the final on Sunday in Basel against Spain or Germany. Spain and Germany meet in Zurich on Wednesday.
For the second time in six days, England had stared down an inevitable exit and survived in extra time.
Italy would have been a worthy winner, only for the immense defense of central back Elena Linari and Cecilia Salvai.
But Agyemang shot in a specialist shot after Giuliani spilled a cross in a rare handling error. The ball cruelly made through the legs of Linari and Giuliani towards the network.
The teenage replacement against Agyemang had also achieved a decisive late goal in English against Sweden. England had left 2-0 after 78 minutes and then survived a chaotic punishment.
(France 24 with AP)
