Photo Credit: Alex Pantling – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
England will play Spain in the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ Final after defeating Australia 3-1 in Sydney in a match high on quality and drama.
The European champions entered the semi-final as slight favourites but faced an Australian side backed by a loud, partisan crowd inside Stadium Australia.
Despite the raucous atmosphere, it was England who took the lead with less than ten minutes of the first-half remaining. Ella Toone taking advantage of some slack Australian defence and lashing her effort high into the top corner, giving Mackenzie Arnold little chance.
The co-hosts came out for the second-half with a renewed sense of vigour and purpose, pinning their opponents deep in their own half as the noise level inside the stadium ratcheted up.
Sam Kerr, making her first start of the tournament having recovered from her calf injury, found the leveller in the 63rd minute in typically spectacular fashion. Picking the ball up isolated from her team mates, she advanced on goal and struck a phenomenal effort from fully 30 yards that flew past Mary Earps and into the far corner.
The jubilation didn’t last long for Australia though, as Ellie Carpenter hesitated inside her own box, allowing Lauren Hemp to steal in and prod an effort past Arnold as England re-took the lead.
With the co-hosts pushing hard to save their World Cup dream, they were punished on the break, as the excellent Hemp released Alessia Russo in the area and the Arsenal forward calmly finished into the far corner to send England to their first ever FIFA Women’s World Cup™ Final.
Australia: 1 (Sam KERR 63′)
England: 3 (Ella TOONE 36′, Lauren HEMP 71′, Alessia RUSSO 86′)
HT: 0-1