England crowned Euro 2022 champions after Kelly sinks Germany in extra time

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England’s women have been crowned European champions for the first time after Chloe Kelly’s goal in the second half of extra-time seized a 2-1 win, enough to beat Germany in the final at Wembley.

The teams could not be separated after 120 minutes of football, and Kelly, the Manchester City player, poked home after the ball bounced her way after a corner from Lauren Hemp. England led through Ella Toone before being pegged back in normal time, but Kelly’s first ever international goal delivered England’s Lionesses a first ever major international tournament victory.

In the 62nd minute of normal time, Toone, the Manchester United midfielder who had just come on as a substitute, had opened the scoring. After a pass from Keira Walsh, Toone escaped the German offside trap and lobbed the ball beyond Merle Frohms in the German goal.

The eight-times champions had never lost a Euros final, and pushed hard for an equaliser and the outstanding Lina Magull equalised in the 79th minute, slotting home after a neat passing move.

Germany had been forced to play without Alexandra Popp, the tournament’s joint-top scorer injured in the warmup. England started brightly, with Ellen White failing to direct a header past Frohms though it took the intervention of Leah Williamson, the captain, and Mary Earps, the England keeper, to clear a goalmouth scramble as the Germans came back into a tight, often physical contest.

Three yellow cards were awarded in the first 45 minutes, and both teams had reason to complain about the officiating of Kateryna Monzul, the Ukrainian referee. White missed a yet clearer chance later in the first half, Beth Mead having opened up the German defence.

The Germans made the better start to the second half, with Earps asked to make a couple of saves, Magull also poking wide. White was withdrawn for Alessia Russo as Sarina Wiegman, the England coach who ended up collecting her second successive Euros, attempted to alter the flow of play, with Toone coming on to replace Fran Kirby.

Mead, England’s tournament top-scorer, left the field immediately after Toone’s goal with a muscle problem as Germany pushed for an equaliser that came when their pressure finally told.

Extra time followed, with Germany dominating possession and England sat deep while looking to hit on the counter as both sets of players tired. It was England who showed the greater resolve, and Kelly’s goal, a mark of their set-piece expertise, claimed a historic victory.