Michelle Agyemang declared coming off the bench to avoid wasting England’s European Championship hopes ‘means the world to me’ after the Lionesses earned a dramatic 2-1 further time win over Italy.
Agyemang, 19, got here off the bench with 5 minutes left to play as England chased an equaliser following Barbara Bonansea’s first half objective.
The ahead struck within the sixth minute of stoppage time to degree the scores, pouncing after Italian goalkeeper Laura Giuliani spilled Lauren Hemp’s cross.
Agyemang’s composed end sparked scenes of celebration from England followers, gamers and supervisor Sarina Wiegman.
She went near scoring the winner deep into extra-time with a clipped effort bouncing again off Italy’s crossbar.
The close to miss got here moments earlier than England had been awarded a penalty after a foul on Beth Mead, with Chloe Kelly changing from the spot on the second try after her preliminary effort was saved.
Michelle Agyemang has mirrored on her journey from ball woman to England’s Euros hero
{The teenager} got here off the bench to attain a dramatic equaliser in opposition to Italy within the semi-finals
Kelly’s strike took England into a 3rd successive main last and capped off a shocking rise for Agyemang.
The ahead had served as a ball woman for Wiegman’s third match as England supervisor, however 4 years later has change into an excellent sub for the Dutch coach.
‘It means the world to me, I’m so grateful and I’m so grateful to god for the place he’s introduced me from,’ Agyemang mentioned, when requested about her rise by ITV.
‘Such as you mentioned, simply 4 years in the past I used to be I used to be only a child throwing balls to a few of these ladies, now I am taking part in with them.
‘It’s a nice alternative and I’m so glad I’m right here.
‘It’s respectable (three objectives in 4 caps), to be doing it at this degree and to be serving to out this group is greater than I might have wished for, so I’m so grateful.’
Agyemang had earned her first cap for England as not too long ago as April, the place the 19-year-old netted 41 seconds after coming off the bench in opposition to Belgium.
She has since scored equalisers for England within the Euro 2025 quarter-finals and semi-finals after being introduced on with the Lionesses’ coaching.
Agyemang was a ball woman in Sarina Wiegman’s third recreation in cost and is now her tremendous sub
The ahead mentioned the second her team-mates celebrated along with her will ‘reside in my coronary heart perpetually’
Agyemang, who performs for Arsenal, admitted her fast rise has meant she had barely identified a few of her England team-mates.
The 19-year-old mirrored that their celebration of her last-gasp equaliser shall be a second that may ‘reside in my coronary heart perpetually’.
‘It’s so particular, to see my group celebrating with me, most of those ladies I haven’t even identified for greater than two months.
‘However it exhibits the togetherness that now we have as a group and the combat, coronary heart and spirit that now we have.
‘To have them have a good time with me like that was an awesome group second and one that may reside in my coronary heart perpetually.’
Following England’s dramatic victory, the defending champions will meet both Spain or Germany within the last on Sunday.
