England will face Spain in the final of the Women’s World Cup after overcoming hosts Australia 3-1 in Sydney on Wednesday.
A brilliant goal from Ella Toone gave the Lionesses a half-time lead, but it was cancelled out early in the second half by a stunning strike from Australia’s Sam Kerr.
However, further goals from Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo broke the Matildas’ hearts and booked England’s first ever Women’s World Cup final.
England named an unchanged side from the one which overcame Colombia in the last round, while Kerr captained Australia on her first start of the tournament, with defender Alanna Kennedy ruled out due to illness.
Kerr had the game’s first sight of goal when she was played in by a great ball over top in the seventh minute, but England goalkeeper Mary Earps saved the striker’s shot with her feet, and the offside flag was up anyway.
Moments later, England’s Georgia Stanway was onside when she found herself one-on-one with Mackenzie Arnold, but the Australian goalkeeper made a big stop to deny the opening goal.
The next big chance fell to Australia in the 30th minute when a corner found its way to Hayley Raso at the back post, but Lucy Bronze was in position to make a crucial block.
The opening goal came in the 36th minute and it was a stunner from England’s Toone. Russo’s cut-back from the by-line found its way to the Manchester United forward, and she unleashed an unstoppable rocket into the top corner for 1-0.
Into the second half and England went close to a second when Arnold had to be alert to push a long-range Hemp effort around the post. From the resulting corner, captain Millie Bright headed just wide.
Australia were finding chances hard to come by but just after the hour mark they equalised in stunning fashion. Captain Kerr picked up the ball inside her own own half and ran at Bright, before unleashing an incredible strike into the top corner from 25-yards.
The Matildas were buoyed by their equaliser and Earps was called into action a couple of times shortly after the goal, but England soon recovered and got themselves back in front.
Just after Russo had gone close with a header, a long ball forward wasn’t dealt with by Australia defender Ellie Carpenter, and Hemp nipped in to poke past marooned goalkeeper Arnold for 2-1.
The hosts pushed for another equaliser and Kerr had a big chance in the 83rd minute when she was found in the box by a Caitlin Foord cross, but the striker could only divert her header over the bar. From the next attack, Earps had to make a good save to deny Cortnee Vine.
Kerr then went close again in the 85th minute when Earps could only punch a corner straight to the striker’s feet, but somehow she was unable to guide her volley on target and England breathed a sigh of relief.
And they were made to rue that missed chance just a minute later, when Hemp slipped in Russo with a lovely pass, and the Arsenal striker fired across the goalkeeper and into the corner for 3-1.
Sarina Wiegman’s side will now return to Sydney for Sunday’s final, with Australia up against Sweden in Brisbane in Saturday’s third-place play-off.
