Mid-week update ☺️
Lucy's POV:
From the start of the game, the stadium atmosphere was cracking. Mary was called into action within seconds, making a stunning low save with her feet to deny Sofia Jakobsson. The tempo of the game was frenetic early on and we came close at the other end when Meado headed narrowly wide from a cross delivered by Leah. Stina Blackstenius came close to opening the scoring twice, the first one was miscued and then the second time when she struck the ball from six yards with a header. As a team we kept up with the pressure of the game and our moment came in the 34th minute. I recovered the loose ball on the right and looked to see Meado in the middle. I passed it up to her and she took a great first touch and quickly swept a shot past the Swedish goalkeeper to open the scoring. We all screamed along with the 28,624 other people in the stadium. We celebrated and then went back to start the game up again. G broke purposefully out of midfield and had several shots at the goal, and came so close, but the ball was volleyed over the bar.
Once the halftime whistle blew, we all started making our way into the changing room. I looked up to see Ellie sat on my brothers shoulders, clapping her hands, looking adorable with her ear defenders on too. I waved up at her, and she squealed, surprisingly having spotted me. I went into the changing room, and grabbed some electrolytes from one of the trainers. I sat in my cubby, listening to Sarina, while taking as much energy into me as I could.
We began the second half with a bristling intent and we doubled our lead within moments, when Meado took a corner, and I jumped and connected my head with the ball, and I watched as it bounced between bodies and nestled in the right-hand corner, sending the stadium wild. I raced over to where my family were and celebrated near them. Charlie was jumping up and down screaming, while Ellie was looking around, watching everyone scream and smile.
It was nearly 3-0, when Russo, who had been substituted on, burst down the right side, and fizzed perfectly across goal, where Meado could only graze the crossbar from point blank. The Swedish coach shuffled through his team with substitutions and Sweden stirred when Blackstenius's inventive near-post effort, forcing Mary to claw over with a stunning one-handed save. We continued to threaten the Swedes and our efforts were awarded again, in the 68th minute. Fran broke through and cut back for Lessi, whose initial effort was straight at the Swedish goalkeeper Lindahl, but she pounced on the rebound and produced an audacious backheel impudently through Lindahl's legs. We raced after Lessi as she celebrated. I was in shock with her goal, it was definitely a cheeky goal, that would be remembered forever. Finally Fran got her goal that she deserved after her play throughout the game, as she latched onto a through ball and Lindahl could only spill her high effort into the net. We nearly got our fifth goal of the night in injury time, when Lessi nearly latched onto a teasing Hempo cross, but the damage was done and we were now on our way to the final on Sunday. I leaned over resting my hands on my knees, as soon as the final whistle blew. We had done it, we were through to a Euros final.
I looked around the pitch and stadium and watched as my teammates celebrated, and that's when I spotted Charlie in the crowd, with a light brown envelope held tightly to her chest and a Stokes 3 shirt on her. I grinned and without telling anyone, I raced as quickly as I could to her and my family. The tiredness of the game long forgotten, with new excitement of the news Charlie was going to ask Keira. Once I reached the barrier, I jumped it, and got over to my family as quick as I could. Mum pulled into a hug, before I could say anything, she whispered into my ear "We are all so proud of you and Keira". I grinned as she included Keira. I would be forever grateful, that my family had openly accepted Keira into our family, and sometimes it felt like they preferred her over me, but that secretly brought me so much happiness. Mum unclasped me from our hug, and I was immediately met with two arms snaking around my waist. I looked down and tightly hugged Charlie tightly into a hug. She looked up at me and said "I'm glad you got a goal Mum, it makes the night even better", I grinned and tightly hugged her again, before I looked up as I heard my name being called, well more like squealed "mumma !!". I reached my arms out as my brother passed me Ellie, who kicked and wriggled around, before settling into my arms. I looked to see her wearing a Kirby 14 shirt. I settled her on my hip, as I looked down at Charlie and asked "you ready ?", Charlie beamed and nodded her head enthusiastically. Our families looked at us, and Tracy leaned over pulling us into a slight group hug, before saying "she'll be over the moon", talking about Keira's reaction.
I smiled over at our families, before swinging my legs over the barrier and setting Ellie down on the other side, before helping Charlie over. I took Ellie's hand and Charlie walked beside me, as we searched the pitch for Keira, who happened to be talking to Leah. Charlie looked over at me and grinned, before racing over to Keira, hiding the envelope behind her back. I let Ellie's hand go as she raced over to Keira, almost bashing into her legs. It was almost as though Elleã could sense that something good was about to go down.
Keira and Leah both smiled at the sight of the 2 girls. Leah bent down and picked Ellie up, giving her a gentle tight hug. Charlie looked up at me silently asking to ask Keira the question. I nodded my head and Charlie looked over at Keira. Before she could say anything Leah crept around to me, handing me Ellie, and whispered "I'll leave you guys to have this moment". I nodded and smiled gratefully over at her, before turning back to Charlie who was shuffling around on her feet.
"Kei ?", Charlie asked, looking at Keira. "Yes ?", Keira replied, smiling down at Charlie. Charlie pulled the envelope in front of her and said "this is for you, I hope you'll say yes", before handing the envelope to Keira who looked confused, but took the envelope anyway. Charlie shuffled closer to me, as Keira looked over at me curiously. I spoke up and said "open the envelope Kei". Keira looked down at the envelope in her hands, and slowly began to open it. As she went to pull the papers out, Charlie hid her head into my chest, peaking slightly over at Keira. Keira pulled out the papers, and once she had begun to read the content of the papers, she began to cry and smiled over at me. I grinned, knowing she was delighted. Charlie looked up at me, frowning at Keira's reaction. Keira spoke up and said "does anyone have a pen ?", Charlie gasped and Keira looked over at her and replied "come here Charlie". Charlie walked over to her and Keira leaned down to pick her up, settling her in her arms, hugging her tightly and said "I would be honoured to adopt you Charlie". Charlie smiled softly and wrapped her arms tightly around Keira's neck.
Keira looked over at me with tears running down her face and asked "can you get a pen ?", I nodded and shouted over to Leah, who was close enough to hear my shout "can ya get a pen Le ?", Leah grinned widely and went in search of a pen. I turned back to Keira and Charlie, who both had tears in their eyes, and big smiles on their faces. "Here you go", Leah said, as she ran over to us and held out a pen towards Kei, who grabbed the pen, and then let Charlie down. Keira indicated to Leah, to turn around, so she could use her back to sign her name on the papers. I watched with a huge smile on my face, Ellie having spotted everyone grinning, had begun clapping her hands, and Charlie jumped up and down on her feet with excitement. Once Keira had signed the papers, Charlie jumped into her arms again, and I just caught her whispering "I love you Mum", to Keira, who instantly replied back with "I love you so much Charlie", holding her tightly in her arms. I looked around the stadium, to see it mostly empty, and all the players bar us in the middle of the pitch had left the pitch. I nudged Keira towards the tunnel, and Leah raced ahead. Just before we entered the noisy changing room, I turned around to stop Keira entering and pulled her in for a quick kiss. She smiled over at me, and than turned back around, and I opened the door to the noisy, music filled changing room, where our teammates were dancing around, singing in celebration at our achievement of making it to the Euros final.
