Sweden 2-2 England [AET, 2-3 on pens]: Lionesses through to semi-final after dramatic shootout win | OneFootball

England are through to the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 semi-finals after a dramatic win against Sweden which was ultimately decided by a penalty shootout. It was a game that they won by the skin of their teeth, having imagined for much of the first hour that they would be heading home in the morning.

Sweden, unbeaten for a year in the buildup to Thursday’s match, scored twice in the first half-hour of the game as they exploited Jess Carter’s lack of pace. But Sarina Wiegman’s second-half substitutions paid off, with Lucy Bronze and Michelle Agyemang scoring within two minutes of each other to drag England level and eventually force extra time.

Neither side could find the breakthrough in the additional half-hour, but after a dramatic shootout in which Jennifer Falk saved four penalties but also cost the Blågult dearly, England progressed to yet another major tournament semi-final.

As it happened

Sweden came firing out of the blocks and they were relentless in their press, forcing England into mistakes and exposing their defensive weaknesses. Stina Blackstenius left Jess Carter chasing shadows and created both of Sweden’s goals as a result, with the former Chelsea defender unable to match her pace.

Blackstenius assisted Swedish captain Kosovare Asllani for the first goal, which she scored just two minutes in, and while the Blågult had another chance just two minutes later, England skipper Leah Williamson made a crucial clearance and conceded a corner instead.

The Lionesses did have a chance of their own in the sixth minute when Lauren Hemp hit the woodwork, but Blackstenius inflicted further damage as she left Carter chasing shadows again when she ran in behind to slot home the second goal of the evening, doubling Sweden’s lead.

But Sweden lost composure in the second half. England, rejuvenated by a half-time team talk and the stark realisation that they’d be heading home if the scoreline did not change, started to create more chances and eventually found the breakthrough with just 11 minutes of regulation time remaining.

Substitute Chloe Kelly, who had replaced Lauren Hemp just a minute earlier, crossed the ball from outside the box to Lucy Bronze, who headed it in at the back post, halving the deficit. The game was on – and just two minutes later, England’s youngest player, Michelle Agyemang poked home the second goal after another cross from Kelly and a flick from Beth Mead.

Neither side managed to find the winning goal in regulation time, nor in a chaotic period of extra time that saw Leah Williamson withdrawn with an ankle problem, Alex Greenwood suffer a shoulder injury, Lucy Bronze apply heavy strapping to her hamstring and goalkeeper Hannah Hampton receive medical treatment after sustaining a nosebleed.

And so, penalties followed. Hampton produced two saves to Jennifer Falk’s four, though the Swedish international also cost her side a chance at progression when she stepped up to take their fifth spot-kick, skying it over the bar. Sudden Death was needed – and on the seventh time of asking, Lucy Bronze slotted home knowing that if Hannah Hampton saved Sweden’s next attempt, England would go through. Hampton didn’t even have to do that; 18-year-old Smilla Holmberg blasted her effort over the crossbar, setting up England’s meeting with Italy next Tuesday. through to the semi-final against Italy.

The Lionesses’ UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 semi-final against Italy takes place in Geneva on Tuesday 22 July at 20:00 BST [21:00 CEST].

The lineups

ENG: Hampton; Bronze, Williamson, Carter, Greenwood; Toone, Walsh, Stanway; James, Russo, Hemp

SWE: Falk; Lundkvist, Björn, Eriksson, Andersson; Angeldahl, Asllani, Zigiotti Olme; Rytting Kaneryd, Blackstenius, Rolfö