STUDLEY’S Hannah Hampton has helped the Lionesses through to this year’s UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 semi-finals.
England won a penalty shoot-out 3-2 where more spot kicks were saved or missed than were scored.
The match did not start the best for England when Asllani gave Sweden the lead after just two minutes and Blackstenius doubled the Swedes’ lead on the 25-minute mark.
England arguably had the better of the end of the first half but were caught cold again just before the break and Hampton saved to prevent the Lionesses from going 3-0 down.
In the second half, England came out with a mountain to climb – but it was a peak they dramatically managed to reach.
The introduction of substitutes, including Chloe Kelly and Michelle Agyemang, made the difference.
In the 79th minute, Kelly’s cross was met at the back post by Lucy Bronze who headed home to pull one back.
And, in less than two minutes, The Lionesses were on level terms. A cross from Kelly fell to Agyemang who slotted it home, much to the delight of her, her team mates and the England fans who well outnumbered their Swedish counterparts in Zurich tonight.
The rest of the game saw both England and Sweden have chances but none of any note and we were heading for extra time.
Extra time
The extra time period was a cagey affair with both teams seemingly more focused on not trying to lose the match, rather than going to win it.
A clash involving several players in England’s six yard box led to several ‘walking wounded’, Lucy Bronze with a self-bandaged leg and Hampton with a nose bleed.
Then came the penalties…..
Alessia Russo scored England’s first penalty and Hampton saved the Swedes’ effort, diving to her left.
Then Lauren James failed to capitalise for the Lionesses when her penalty was saved and Julia Zigiotti Olme scored for Sweden.
At 1-1 after two spot kicks, Beth Mead’s penalty was saved and Magdalend Eriksson’s shot hit the post. – It remained 1-1 after two penalties each.
The Swedish keeper Jennifer Falk saved Alex Greenwood’s spot kick and Nathalie Bjorn scored past Hampton to make it 2-1.
Kelly drew England level but then Falk – who had done her bit between the sticks – was up next. She fired over the bar and it was all square. 2-2
In sudden death, Grace Clinton’s penalty was saved by Jennifer Falk and Hampton tipped Sofia Jakobsson’s penalty onto the post with a fantastic dive to her right. Still 2-2 after six penalties.
The seventh penalty was taken by Lucy Bronze who placed her spot kick down the middle and into the roof of the net. And when Smilla Holmberg fired over the bar, The Lionesses were ecstatic – going through – 3-2 on penalties.
Post-match interview
Speaking to BBC Sport after the match, Hampton, described the shootout as: ‘Stressful – stressful watching, stressful playing’.
“Every time I saved one I was thinking ‘please just put it in so we have a bit of a cushion’.
“Their keeper then just went and saved the next one and I was thinking ‘oh goodness, here we go.”
Hampton looked battered, bruised and bloodied but came up with the goods.
She said: “I think I was better in the game when I had one nostril than when I was completely fine! Just happy and relieved now.”
She joked that she and nosebleeds ‘never went well’, adding that she and the doctor had some great history in the past with her having to go to hospital.
“As soon as he came over he was thinking ‘not again’. I’m better with one nostril now.”
She praised the England fans for all their support, saying hearing them during the shootout gave her and the team a lift.
“They were cheering non-stop.
“It helps you get that little bit of an edge over them and stretch a little extra for each dive.
“They were definitely behind me and I really appreciated all of the support.”
England will now face Italy in the UEFA Women’s Euros semi-final at 8pm on Tuesday, July 22.
