England qualify after dramatic shootout win
England 2 - 2 Sweden (England won 3-2 on penalties)
England mounted a stirring late comeback to keep their European title defence alive
Author | Jamie P
Stadium | Stadion Letzigrund
Lucy Bronze, stepping up as England’s seventh taker, rifled her penalty into the roof of the net before Sweden’s Smilla Holmberg blazed over to bring a wild, error-strewn shootout to a close.
It was a chaotic finale, with Sweden converting just two of their seven spot-kicks. Hannah Hampton made two crucial saves, while her opposite number, Jennifer Falk, denied four England efforts but missed a golden chance to seal victory when she sent her own penalty over the bar.
Sarina Wiegman’s side had looked dead and buried after falling two goals behind within the first 25 minutes. Kosovare Asllani opened the scoring before Stina Blackstenius added a second, capitalising on England’s laboured start.
But the Lionesses clawed their way back, with Bronze nodding in a Chloe Kelly cross and 17-year-old Michelle Agyemang showing remarkable composure to slot home the equaliser soon after.
The comeback forced extra time, and eventually penalties, where England held their nerve to progress after one of the most gripping shootouts in recent tournament memory.
It was all about England's resilience
England came from two goals down in regular time before prevailing in a frenetic penalty shootout that kept their hopes of retaining the European crown alive.
Sweden goalkeeper Jennifer Falk had the chance to settle the tie with her side’s fifth penalty, only to fire over the crossbar. She then denied Grace Clinton, offering Sweden a second opportunity to win it, but Hannah Hampton was equal to Sofia Jakobsson’s strike to keep England in the contest.
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READ MORE | Sweden impressive but ultimately fall short
It fell to Lucy Bronze to tilt the momentum. The veteran defender, appearing at her seventh major tournament, stepped up and lashed her penalty high into the net before turning to the crowd behind the goal with a defiant roar. Her team-mates met her at the halfway line as the shootout reached its climax.
Now 33, Bronze has scored twice in this tournament and once again delivered when it mattered most, even after a first half in which England’s defence had been picked apart by Sweden’s relentless attacking down the flanks.
Jess Carter struggled to contain the threat of Stina Blackstenius and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, while Alex Greenwood was frequently left isolated. England’s defensive issues have been apparent for some time, and Sweden capitalised.
But Wiegman’s substitutions once again shifted the momentum. The bench made a telling impact, just as it had done in earlier matches, helping England claw their way back into the tie.
There were nervy moments and more than a hint of fortune, and tougher tests surely lie ahead. But this is a team well-versed in finding a way. They understand what it takes.
