Georgia Stanway scored a stunning extra-time winner as England came from behind to beat Spain 2-1 and seal a place in the semi-finals of Women’s Euro 2022.
The Lionesses looked set for an early exit as they were trailing with just six minutes left at Amex Stadium.
But an Ella Toone equalizer took the game to an extra 30 minutes, where Stanway scored the winning goal.
Here, the PA news agency takes a look at what’s to come.
The lionesses roar in the final four
England remain without a major honor in women’s football and it looked like another tournament was about to pass by here.
Having scored 14 goals and never conceded once in the group, this was their toughest test by far.
Spain, who had not given their best until now, turned on the style and took the lead through Esther González.
England’s hopes seemed to fade only for Toone to come off the bench and equalize following a fall by Manchester United team-mate Alessia Russo.
That took the match to extra time, where Stanway settled the game with a superb goal that put England through to the semi-final against either Sweden or Belgium in Sheffield on Tuesday.
Pain for Spain
One of the pre-tournament favourites, Spain fell again at the quarter-final stage.
It is the third consecutive Women’s European Championship in which they have not been able to get past the quarterfinals.
Spain dominated most of the 90 minutes but couldn’t find a way to get back into the game after Toone’s equalizer and will now have to regroup ahead of a crack at next year’s World Cup.
Star player Alexia Putellas should be back and working flat out after being ruled out of the European Championships with a knee injury.
10 perfect to return Wiegman
Wiegman was forced to miss Friday’s 5-0 win over Northern Ireland after testing positive for coronavirus earlier in the day.
It was not until three hours before kick-off that the Football Association confirmed that he had tested negative and that he could take his place on the bench.
And Wiegman oversaw a comeback that extended her record for UEFA Women’s Championship wins.
He won all six matches to lead his native Netherlands to the title in 2017 and England are now four out of four in their home tournament.
austrian sensation
The second of the quarterfinals takes place on Thursday night when eight-time winners Germany take on Austria, the lowest-ranked nation remaining in the tournament.
Technical director Irene Fuhrmann said: “It is a feeling that we are again among the top eight teams in Europe.
“We have another opportunity to face one of the best teams in this tournament. Germany, like England, have shown how consistent they are. They haven’t conceded a goal yet, it will be an incredible challenge.”
Statistics of the day
quote of the day
post of the day
WHAT A GOAL. WHAT A TIME!— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 20, 2022
Until next time
July 21
Quarterfinals: Germany v Austria (8:00 p.m., Brentford Community Stadium)
