England fought again from a purpose all the way down to beat Colombia 2-1 on Saturday in a bruising encounter and arrange a tasty Girls’s World Cup semi-final with Australia. Arsenal ahead Alessia Russo scored the winner for the European champions simply after the hour in entrance of 75,000 in Sydney to finish Colombia’s run within the match. Earlier within the day, co-hosts Australia beat France 7-6 in an exciting penalty shootout in Brisbane to achieve the final 4 for the primary time of their historical past.
The semi-final will likely be in Sydney on Wednesday.
Colombia, enjoying of their first quarter-final, took the lead towards the run of play by an exquisite dipping effort from the sting of the field by Leicy Santos on 44 minutes.
However England struck again deep in first-half stoppage time when Lauren Hemp pounced on a goalkeeping error by a fumbling Catalina Perez, earlier than Russo sealed the quarter-final within the Lionesses’ favour together with her cool end.
Colombia have been one of many best-supported groups on the match and their followers dominated at Stadium Australia, their yellow shirts vastly outnumbering England supporters.
Colombia are ranked 25 on the earth to England’s 4 they usually had been clear underdogs, even when they did beat Germany within the group section.
Sarina Wiegman’s England had been lacking potent attacker Lauren James, banned for 2 video games for stamping on an opponent within the win on penalties over Nigeria within the final 16.
However they made the higher begin and Colombia suffered an early blow when defender Carolina Arias was pressured off after 10 minutes when she was injured throughout an England assault.
Jeers went up every time the Lionesses had the ball however they gave the impression to be having fun with themselves and discovering pockets of area in entrance of the Colombian defence with ease.
Nelson Abadia’s facet have a fame for being bodily they usually dished out some roughhouse remedy.
The 18-year-old Ana Guzman changed a tearful Arias and twice she left England gamers in a heap on the ground, however American referee Ekaterina Koroleva waved away appeals for fouls.
Koroleva was at risk of shedding a grip on the sport with England placing in some flying challenges of their very own in retaliation.
Rachel Daly, one of many England gamers shaken up by Guzman, twice went shut halfway by the primary half, heading at Perez after which firing over from distance.
Colombia had hardly been seen as an attacking power however they took the lead when Santos expertly looped the ball over goalkeeper Mary Earps, who was caught out by the dip of the ball below her crossbar.
The entire South Individuals’ substitutes raced from the bench to rejoice with Santos and the remainder of the group.
England drew degree moments earlier than half-time and it was a goalkeeping mistake, Perez spilling the ball below stress from Russo and Hemp stabbing into an empty web.
Russo put England in entrance within the 63rd minute, amassing Georgia Stanway’s move on the flip and firing the ball low below Perez, who was substituted quickly afterwards.
Colombia threatened a comeback however England held on pretty comfortably and are simply two victories away from including a primary World Cup crown to their European title.
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