England survive Colombia test, Australia edge France in penalty to reach semis

Sydney, Aug. 13: England fought back from a goal down to beat Colombia 2-1 on Saturday in a bruising encounter and set up a tasty Women’s World Cup semi-final with Australia.

Forward Alessia Russo scored the winner for the European champions just after the hour in front of 75,000 in Sydney to end Colombia’s run in the tournament. Earlier in the day, co-hosts Australia beat France 7-6 in a thrilling penalty shootout in Brisbane to reach the last four for the first time in their history. 

The semi-final will be in Sydney on Wednesday. Colombia, playing in their first quarter-final, took the lead against the run of play through a wonderful dipping effort from the edge of the box by Leicy Santos on 44 minutes.

But England struck back deep in first-half stoppage time when Lauren Hemp pounced on a goalkeeping error by a fumbling Catalina Perez, before Russo sealed the quarter-final in the Lionesses’ favour with her cool finish.

“I am buzzing, we are keeping the dream alive,” said Russo.

“We have had to dig deep from the first game, they have so many talented players who can cause you trouble in a second.” Eyeing up the clash with Australia in front of what will be a hostile crowd, Russo added: “It’s exciting, what more do you want?

“I think Colombia had a great fanbase here tonight so we had a taste of it.” Colombia have been one of the best-supported teams at the tournament and their fans dominated at Stadium Australia, their yellow shirts vastly outnumbering England supporters.

Colombia are ranked 25 in the world to England’s four and they were clear underdogs, even if they did beat Germany in the group phase.

Australia beat France 

Co-hosts Australia beat France 7-6 in a thrilling penalty shoot-out to reach the semi-finals of the Women’s World Cup for the first time in their history on a night of drama in Brisbane.

Cortnee Vine scored the winning penalty to end a remarkable shoot-out that saw both teams take 10 spot-kicks, the quarter-final having ended 0-0 after 120 nerve-shredding minutes.

Vine held her nerve to send the crowd into raptures and keep the Matildas’ dream of winning the World Cup on home soil alive. Australia goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold had missed a chance to win the shoot-out when her kick hit the post, but then saved twice from Kenza Dali after the VAR spotted she had both feet off her line the first time.

Vicki Becho missed France’s 10th penalty, and it was left to Vine to take Australia through by beating France’s substitute goalkeeper Solene Durand, who had been sent on especially for the shoot-out. “I’m so freaking proud about this team. The bravery that they showed tonight, unbelievable,” said Australia coach Tony Gustavsson.

“I think we’ll have maybe tonight to celebrate it and then tomorrow we’ll review it and move on to the next game,” added Arnold, the player of the match. It was an agonising way for France to go out after a tense encounter watched by a sell-out crowd of 49,461.

Les Bleues had been hoping to get to the semi-finals for just the second time, following their defeat in the last four in 2011, but instead go home.

“We had a whole stadium and a nation against us. We produced an exceptional performance, but that’s football. It was destiny,” French coach Herve Renard told broadcaster France 2. “Good luck to Australia. I think we deserved more but that’s how it is.”

Australia’s victory was achieved despite Sam Kerr again being left on the bench at kick-off, with the talismanic Matildas captain, now fit after a calf injury, coming on early in the second half and going on to convert her penalty in the shoot-out. (AFP)