There was yet more high drama and controversy as England overcame world champions Spain on penalties to successfully defend their European Championship title in Switzerland.
For the third match in succession, the Lionesses were forced to come from behind to secure victory after Mariona Caldentey opened the scoring for Spain midway through the first half at Basel’s St Jakob-Park.
Having been introduced from the bench in place of the injured Lauren James, Chloe Kelly was once again England’s super-sub hero as she delivered a pinpoint cross for Alessio Russo’s 57th-minute header to make it all square.
And it was Kelly’s spot-kick at the end of a nerve-jangling shootout that saw the holders get their hands on the trophy – three years on from their famous victory over Germany at Wembley.
Sarina Wiegman’s side looked have got off to a dream start in the shootout as Beth Mead sent Spain goalkeeper Cata Coll the wrong way from 12 yards, despite slipping in her run-up.
However, replays clearly showed that Mead had touched the ball twice before finding the back of the net, meaning she was forced to start over and retake her penalty – which was subsequently saved.
Mead could have been forgiven for watching the rest of the shootout through her fingers following her miss and the Arsenal forward would have had her mouth as Leah Williamson’s tame effort was denied by Coll, with England holding a 2-1 lead.
But Spanish winger Salma Paralluelo dragged her strike wide to ensure the trophy would remain with England, as long as Kelly was successful with her strike.
Why was Beth Mead allowed to take her penalty twice?
Just last month, the law was changed on ‘double-touch’ penalties after Julian Alvarez’s highly contentious disallowed spot-kick in Atletico Madrid’s Champions League last-16 defeat to Real Madrid.
Alvarez slipped and made contact with his standing leg before Real Madrid went on to prevail to book their spot in the quarter-finals.
Issuing a clarification to Law 14 in response, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) confirmed that penalties which had been touched twice would now be allowed to be retaken in cases where it was ‘clearly unintentional’ – but only if the kick was successful.
More to follow.
