Moment of magic sets up Matildas showdown

England have arrange a mouthwater semi-final showdown in opposition to Australia after overcoming Colombia on Saturday evening.

The contest took over Stadium Australia in Sydney with followers submitting via the turnstiles to observe the motion unfold.

The underdog Colombian outfit shocked their opponents within the opening half when Leicy Santos floated a objective of the match into the online from the sting of the field.

It noticed England fall behind for the primary time of their World Cup marketing campaign, nevertheless it didn’t final lengthy because the Lionesses responded nearly immediately.

Lauren Hemp pounced on a unfastened ball and prodded it previous goalie Catalina Perez on the stroke of halftime.

The second half changed into an arm wrestle as either side threw every thing that they had at each other earlier than an English star flipped the sport on its head.

An excellent ahead ball noticed Alessia Russo flip her defender inside out earlier than she sizzled a ball alongside the turf previous Perez and into the targets.

England held agency within the dying phases as Colombia did every thing they might to degree proceedings up.

The win means England will tackle the Matildas with the semi-final on Wednesday evening at 8pm from Stadium Australia in Sydney.

9.57pm – Russo’s second of magic

After a tough fought opening quarter-hour of the second half, the Lionesses have taken the lead after a marvel strike from Alessia Russo.

After turning her defender inside out, Russo slotted the ball previous Catalina Perez and gave England the higher hand with 26 minutes left on the clock.

9.25pm – England strike again moments later

The Lionesses wasted no time in drawing degree after discovering themselves behind for the primary time of their World Cup marketing campaign.

A chaos ball within the field ended with Alessia Russo on the penalty spot and prodding in direction of objective, Colombian goalie Catalina Pérez appeared to have it beneath management however Lauren Hemp pounced because the ball hit the turf and she or he slotted it into the online.

9.16pm – Colombia stun the Poms

A shocking strike has floated over the pinnacle of England goalkeeper Mary Earps and into the again of the online.

Leicy Santos stood on the sting of the field on the precise hand aspect when she delivered her shot in direction of objective.

The ball floated awkwardly earlier than nestling into the again of the online and sending the Colombian gamers into raptures.

It’s the primary time this World Cup that England have discovered themselves behind. The objective was Colombia’s first shot on course within the recreation.

9.10pm – England on high however can’t convert

The Lionesses have been the extra dominant staff all around the pitch, however regardless of their dominance they have been unable to money in on the scoreboard.

Playing with out younger star Lauren James up ahead has proven within the early going.

Colombia are taking the battle as much as their extra highly-fancied opponents and left hearts in mouths with a scintillating ahead surge within the thirty eighth minute.

8.40pm – Colombia dealt crushing early blow

In the opening minutes of the quarterfinal contest Colombia have been pressured to make use of an early substitution.

Defender Carolina Arias put her physique on the road as Colombia defended in opposition to an early English assault.

Unfortunately Arias wore the total brunt of 1 shot and remained down on the turf for various minutes earlier than trainers helped her from the pitch.

She was subbed out solely moments later.

8.30pm – Australia advance after historic penalty shootout

Australia has carried out it — making the World Cup semi-finals for the primary time with a heart-stopping penalty shootout win over France at Suncorp Stadium.

After a scoreless attract 120 minutes, the shootout was as tense because it could possibly be.

It was the longest shootout in World Cup historical past — males’s or ladies’s — going 10 rounds with Australia popping out on high 7-6. The earlier longest was the Sweden-USA shootout earlier on this World Cup which went seven rounds, whereas the longest males’s shootout was six rounds between West Germany and France within the 1982 semi-final and the 1994 quarterfinal between Sweden and Romania.

With Mackenzie Arnold arising large between the pipes, saving 4 photographs, together with a replayed shot, it got here all the way down to Cortnee Vine slotting what is going to immediately go into Australian sporting folklore.

Originally revealed as England take down Colombia to arrange semi-final conflict vs Australia

Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au