Zero to hero for Earps
ENGLAND WIN 4-2 ON PENS
MARY EARPS went from zero to hero as the Lionesses landed their second Wembley prize in nerve-jangling fashion.
England’s goalkeeper appeared to have thrown away the Finalissima as the South American champs equalised in the last few minutes of injury time.
They did so after Earps dropped a soft cross after Ella Toone had stepped up on the big stage again with devastating effect.
But Manchester United’s shot-stopper made up for her blunder by saving one of the penalties in the shoot-out as Sarina Wiegman’s charges held their nerve from 12 yards.
It gave the Lionesses their second chance inside the past 12 months to lift a trophy at the home of English football after landing the Euros by beating Germany 10 months ago.
The Finalissima might not have the prestige of the biggest prizes but it has been reinstated after a 30-year break to establish who are the top dogs out of the European champions and the winners of the Copa America.
And it appeared for all but the last few seconds that England would follow up that glorious day last summer by defeating the South Americans.
Toone netted the first goal against the Germans and she was at it again, finishing off a delightful move midway through the first half.
However, 15 minutes later the pattern of the match began to change drastically after a couple of substitutions.
First, Kerolin produced an air shot with the goal at her mercy and then Geyse let fly from the edge of the area.
The Lionesses regrouped and thought they had seen out the game until keeper Earps fluffed her lines and Alves smashed the equaliser into the roof of the net to send the game into a sudden-death shoot-out.