Substitute Ollie Watkins scored a stoppage-time winner to send England through to their second successive UEFA European Championship final at the BVB stadium on Wednesday as they finally turned on the style to beat Netherlands 2-1 on a memorable night in Dortmund, Germany.
With the match looking set for extra time, Watkins received a pass from fellow sub Cole Palmer and fired a sweet strike into the far corner.
Three Lions came from a goal down, with Harry Kane’s penalty cancelling Xavi Simmons’ early goal before Watkins turned England’s hero on the night.
Simmons put the Netherlands ahead in the seventh minute. The midfielder dispossessed Declan Rice before he unleashed an unstoppable drive from the edge of the area for 1-0.
England had come from behind on multiple occasions in the tournament. Once again, the team summoned the muscle memory against the Orange and won a VAR-awarded penalty for a foul on Kane.
The Bayern Munich striker stepped up to convert his kick to restore parity in the 18th minute.
The Lions ramped up the pressure afterward, with Foden presented with two opportunities. Still, the Manchester City attacker’s shot was stopped on the line by Netherlands’ Denzel Dumfries, while another curler from outside the area hit the upright.
The Netherlands got the first set of chances of the second half after the hour. Jordan Pickford saved Virgil van Dijk’s low shot from a corner kick, while Dumfries headed over the bar from the resultant corner kick. Simmons also scuffed a shot for an easy save, while Saka had a goal ruled out for offside at the other end as both sides searched for the winner.
It was England that found the breakthrough in added time through substitute Watkins. The Aston Villa striker collected Cole Palmer’s pass and turned Stefan de Vrij before hitting a hard, low shot into the far corner beyond the reach of the goalkeeper to win it for England.
England, finalists at the last edition of the competition, into back-to-back Euro finals.
Gareth Southgate’s team will face Spain at the Olympiastadion in Berlin in Sunday’s European Championship final.
