England Advances to The Final in Controversial Fashion

What an amazing Semi-Final we had between England and Italy at the 2025 UEFA Women’s Euros. The action and suspense were killing us all, as both sides were battling it out on the pitch as this match went into extra time. When many thought this one would be headed to a penalty kick shootout, that’s when the referee came out of nowhere and caused controversy, giving England a two goals to one victory in Extra Time.

In the 117th minute, the ball was crossed into the area by Lauren Hemp, while a few feet away from the ball, we saw Emma Severini accidentally collide with England’s Georgia Stanway. Then, Croatian referee Ivana Martinčić blew her whistle and pointed to the spot for a penalty. Chole Kelly took the spot kick, and it was saved by Laura Guillani. She left the rebound for Kelly to grab a second chance, and she converted the winning goal in the 119th minute.

During the broadcast of the penalty, match correspondent and former English FA Referee, Mark Clattenburg, was on the broadcast of Fox Sports and informed the broadcasters as well as the viewing audience that this call was never a penalty, and no other referee would have issued it at all, including himself when he was officiating.

In regulation time, this match was played with a goal each as both sides were hungry to advance. Italy got on the board first, as Martina Lenzini and Sofia Cantore had a quick give and go at the far side of the pitch. Then Cantore gets to the endline for a fabulous cross that bounces away from defender Lucy Bronze and right at Barbara Bonanesa for the shot underneath the crossbar, and celebrates it.

Throughout the match, England’s goalkeeper Hannah Hampton found ways to keep the ball out of the net, as Italy continued to attempt adding on to their tally as they knew they had to keep the Lionesses off the scoreboard and avoid going into extra time. But when the match got into second half stoppage time, that’s when England pounced for the equalizer.

Michaelle Agyemang came on as a second half substitute in the 85th minute and worked her magic late. In the sixth minute of seven in second half stoppage time, Bronze passed the ball toward the far side touchline, then a long cross came at the Italian net. Guillani did make the stop, but she left a juicy rebound in front of Agyemang, as she settled the ball and struck it hard to earn the equalizer to force extra time.

While there were no goals scored in extra time, Agyemang almost delivered another magical moment as she was attacking with the ball along the far side. When she got close, Agyemang tried to chip the ball over the head of Guillani and hoping it would drop behind her and completely over the goal line, but the ball struck the front of the crossbar and bounced away in the beginning of the 117th minute. Then controversy struck toward the end of the match from that point.

It is a shame that an excellent Semi-Finals match that had multiple dramatic events in this one had to be torn down for a controversial penalty call in favor of England. While the English are happy to advance, you know very well that the Italians are not happy with how this one ended. But overall, the referee made the biggest error in this tournament that has been fantastic to watch, and now we have to hope the final two matches will be clean and exciting.