Georgia Stanway reflects on the impulsive moment which took Lionesses into semis

Georgia Stanway expressed her delight after sealing England’s dramatic Euro 2022 quarter-final win over Spain with a stunning strike, admitting: “I don’t know why I shot but I’m glad I did”.

The tournament hosts progressed to the semis after coming from behind at the Amex Stadium, with substitute Ella Toone equalising in the 84th minute to cancel out Esther Gonzalez’s 54th-minute opener before Stanway’s show-stopper in the sixth minute of extra-time secured a 2-1 victory.

The midfielder, who has joined Bayern Munich this summer after leaving Manchester City, collected the ball from Keira Walsh, drove towards the box and sent a wonderful shot flying past the diving Sandra Panos from around 20 yards out.

It was a second goal of the tournament for Stanway, the other being a penalty in the 8-0 group-stage thrashing of Norway at the same stadium.

The 23-year-old, scorer of 11 goals in 38 England caps overall, said: “A lot of the girls before the game have said to me I need to shoot more, because coming into this tournament, I’d not had masses of efforts on goal.

“I don’t know why I shot, I don’t know what came over me. Usually I would probably pass that ball to the winger and expect the ball to be put back in the box. But I just thought ‘what is the worst that can happen?’

“I think it was because nobody came to me. I’d expect a defender to step out to me and put me under some pressure or challenge my decision-making. But nobody came to me, and I feel like when the defender makes the decision for me, it’s easier. I honestly don’t know why I shot but I’m glad I did.”

Asked if it was the greatest moment of her career so far, Stanway said: “Yeah, probably. It all feels like a massive blur at the moment. I need to watch it back