Chloe Kelly Seals Euro 2025 Glory as England Edge Spain in Dramatic Penalty Shootout

England are champions of Europe once again. In a tense and dramatic Euro 2025 final held in Basel, Switzerland, Chloe Kelly scored the decisive spot-kick as England triumphed 3-1 over Spain in a penalty shootout, defending the title they had won three years ago.

Spain Strike First but England Hit Back

The match, filled with intensity and tactical battles, ended 1-1 after extra time. Spain, true to form, dominated possession and looked the more confident side early on. Their efforts paid off in the 25th minute when Ona Batlle’s cross found Mariona Caldentey, who nodded the ball past England keeper Hannah Hampton, capitalizing on a rare lapse in the English defence.

Kelly Makes the Difference Off the Bench

With Lauren James struggling with an ankle injury, manager Sarina Wiegman turned to Chloe Kelly just before halftime—a substitution that would eventually prove crucial. Kelly’s impact was immediate. She helped solidify England’s vulnerable left flank and then provided a pinpoint cross in the 57th minute for Alessia Russo, whose header brought England level.

Spain Dominate Possession but Can’t Break Through

Despite controlling possession, Spain couldn’t break the deadlock again in normal or extra time. England, on the other hand, grew more resilient as the match wore on, weathering wave after wave of Spanish attacks.

Penalty Shootout Drama in Basel

The shootout that followed was only the second ever in a Women’s Euro final—the last being in 1984. It began with a jolt as Catalina Coll saved Beth Mead’s opening attempt. But Hannah Hampton responded brilliantly, saving shots from Caldentey and Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati, shifting momentum to the Lionesses.

Coll briefly revived Spain’s hopes by stopping Leah Williamson’s attempt, but substitute Salma Paralluelo fired wide, giving England match point.

Kelly Repeats Her 2022 Heroics

Enter Chloe Kelly. Just as she had done in 2022 against Germany at Wembley, Kelly stood tall under immense pressure. With her signature prancing run-up, she smashed the winning penalty into the net, sprinting off in jubilant celebration as her teammates and fans erupted around her.

“I’m so proud, so proud of this team, so grateful to wear this badge, and I’m so proud to be English,” Kelly said after the win. “I was cool, I was composed and I knew I was going to hit the back of the net.”

Spain Fall Short Despite Dominance

Spain, despite being behind for only four minutes the entire tournament—and not trailing for a single second against England in open play—could not secure their first European title.

England’s Legacy Grows Stronger

The match capped an extraordinary campaign for the Lionesses, full of grit, resilience, and key moments of brilliance. As goalkeeper Hampton summed it up to the BBC:

“This team is just unbelievable, incredible. We’ve shown throughout this tournament we can come back when we go a goal down. We have that grit. We never say die – we just keep going, and we did that today.”

With their back-to-back Euro titles, England have cemented their place as a powerhouse in women’s football—led by the unflinching nerve of Chloe Kelly, once again the hero in white.

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