England completed an inspiring comeback against Sweden on penalties after a remarkable penalty shoot-out to send them through to the semi-final of the Euros.
England boss Sarina Wiegman had discussed before the game how Sweden's aerial dominance, speed and power had been a huge factor in their success in the tournament so far - winning all three of their group games - and it was no different against England in the first half.
It was a frantic start from the Lionesses, who looked panicked at the back with Jess Carter giving the ball away 30 yards from her own goal in the opening minutes.
Arsenal’s Stina Blackstenius pounced, teeing up captain Kosovare Asllani who placed the ball into the bottom corner - a real gift from England.
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|Sweden captain Kosovare Asllani put her side ahead in the opening two minutes
After Lauren Hemp hit the crossbar, Sweden would double their lead through Blackstenius after she latched onto a brilliant through ball from Bayern Munich’s Julia Zigiotti Olme and again dispatched clinically into Hannah Hampton’s far corner.
Despite no changes from Wiegman at half-time, the Lionesses flew out of the blocks in the second half, creating a threat to Sweden’s goal, but to no avail at first.
Sweden remained the lethal attacking threat, with Blackstenius forcing a terrific, and vitally important, save from Hampton to keep Wiegman’s side in the game.
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|Chloe Kelly's introduction changed the game for Sarina Wiegman's side
With less than 15 minutes to go, it was Chloe Kelly’s introduction that changed the game for England.
Just moments after the Arsenal midfielder entered the pitch, she delivered a pearler of a ball over the reach of Jennifer Falk in the Sweden goal, perfectly weighted for the onrushing Lucy Bronze.
The full-back grabbed her first goal of the tournament to put the hopes of a comeback in full swing.
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It wouldn’t take long for England to grab the equaliser that took the game to extra-time either, with Michelle Agyemang reacting first when the ball dropped to her in the box.
Once again, 27-year-old Kelly was involved as she cut back on the wing to deliver another dangerous ball into the Sweden box, aiming for the physical presence of Agyemang.
Significant credit is due to Wiegman, who introduced extra aerial threat in Agyemang to combat Sweden, and Kelly, whose impact on the game was emphatic.
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|Lucy Bronze scored her pen during the dramatic shoot-out
Extra-time began, understandably, cagey, with both teams still relatively shellshocked from the events in the last 15 minutes.
Despite this, Sweden had the better of the additional period without carving out any real chances, forcing the game to penalty shoot-outs.
In tournaments, the Lionesses entered the shoot-out with a penalties record of one win and two losses - the odds were stacked against them.
Nevertheless, the story of the penalties was the misses, with an astonishing nine failed penalties between the two sides.
Ultimately, the Lionesses defied the odds after teenage Smilla Holmberg's wild effort that flew past Hampton's goal, and ecstasy ensued.
It was typical of the match: frantic, chaotic and simply remarkable.
England's three consecutive penalty misses meant spectators felt the their road to defending the Euros title was over - only to be matched by Sweden's equal ineptitude to score from the spot.
Tonight's game can only give the side confidence in their resilience, their mental fortitude and ability to overcome whatever obstacle lies ahead.
If they improve their start to matches, though, it would help, and they face Italy in the semis next.