Football is back home as Lionesses roar past Germany to win a maiden Euro title
Chloe Kelly and Ella Toone wrote their names in English football history as Sarina Wiegman’s brilliant Lionesses beat Germany 2-1 in extra time in a tension-packed Euro 2022 final.
Toone put the Lionesses in front at Wembley with a classy finish in the 62nd minute, but Germany stung the hosts when Lina Magull equalised with 11 minutes left in normal time.
The super clash became the first Women’s Euro final since 2001 to go to extra time with Germany eliminating Sweden with a late goal 21 years ago, scooping their fifth title, and they have since added three more.
But Kelly was on standby to deny Germany a ninth title at England’s national stadium, poking in a 110th-minute winner, tearing off her shirt and sprinting away in celebration. England had never won a senior European Championship, but after the men’s team went agonisingly close last year, the women, led by skipper Leah Williamson, have gone one better.
Germany had earlier been struck with injuries before kick-off when captain and six-goal top scorer Alexandra Popp was ruled out by a muscle injury, but they were robust without her.
England’s Ellen White and Germany’s Sara Daebritz threatened in the early stages before the hosts had their best chance of a physical first half in the 38th minute when Beth Mead’s cutback from the right was fired just over the bar by White.
The contest also broke the number records with total attendance being 87,192, a record for a European Championship final, men’s or women’s.
Manchester United star, Toone became the sixth substitute to score in a Women’s European Championship final, and then Kelly was the seventh to do so. All seven have belonged to the winning team. England had seven goals from substitutes at Euro 2022, more than any other team managed.
