Article Written by Marcello Cutti II/Starlight Illustrated  

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND(SMI-GLOBAL-WOMEN-SPORTS-JULY 02-27, 2025)-World-ranked FIFA#5 & UEFA Women's Euro defending champions "England" defeated #6, Sweden 3-2,
in penalty shoot-out to advance to the semifinals of the UEFA Women's Euro 2025, at Stadion Letzigrund in Zurich, Switzerland.

The English outperformed the Swedish in most the game-stats with 60%-40% in possession, 74%-58% pass accuracy and 18-14, on shots to goals but Sweden beat England on 7-4, shots on target.

Sweden stunned the English in the first few minute of the game with midfielder Kosovare Asllani scoring and put "The Blue-Yellow" 1-0, in front at 2' mark.

The goal-play was originated in the English defensive line when midfielder Keira Walsh failed to clear the ball, bouncing-off Swiss' Filippa Angeldal to forward Stina Blackstenius who passed it to Kosovare Asllani inside the penalty box and shot a rolling right-footed to the left-goalpost ending in back of net for 1-0, Sweden.

Swiss' Stina Blackstenius almost scored the second goal two-minute later for Sweden when goalkeeper Hannah Hampton failed to control the ball after defender Jess Carter returned the ball back bouncing-off to Blackstenius who ran inside the penalty box and her shot was blocked-out of bounce for a corner kick by defender Leah Williamson at 4' mark.

The Lionesses answered back with a counter-attack of their own through the left-side corner and barely misssed the chance to tie the game.Midfielder Georgia Stanway sent a rolling pass inside the 18' and during a loose ball, striker Stina Blackstenius shot a left-footed to goal hitting the crossbar and bouncing onto the field at 6' mark.

The Swidish kept the pressure and the second goal arrived at 25' through striker Stina Blackstenius on fast-break after receiving a long pass from back field from Julia Zigiotti, ran inside the 18' and scored with a right-footed to the opposite goalpost to make it 2-0, for Sweden over England at the half.

In the second half, both teams traded back-and-forth counter-attacks without any causing any major danger to either goal until the English re-grouped and scored 2-goals within 2' minute apart to level the game 2-2, with 10' remaining in the game.

Forward Chloe Kelly through the left-side field corner centered the ball inside the 6-yard box finding defender Lucy Bronze who scored with a header for the 2-1, at 79' and 2' minute later Kelly once again through the left-side field corner evaded a defender and centered the ball inside the 6-yard box with striker Michelle Agyemang tapped-in the ball in back of the net to tie the game 2-2, at 81' mark.

With the game-clock winding down, both teams had a chance to score and win the game before the final whistle but both counter-attacks failed to find the back of the net sending the game into two 15' Extra-time.

England and Sweden played a scoreless math in extra-time period and went to penalty kicks to determine the winner with the Lionesses defeating the Swedish 3-2, and advancing to the semifinals to face Italy who beat Norway 2-1, in the other quarterfinal match,

England and Italy will face-off  on Tuesday July 22, at 3:00pm in the  semifinals  at Stade de Geneve in Lancy, Switzerland.