That Alessia Russo-Lauren Hemp partnership is fire! Winners & losers as England see off brave Colombia - and Lionesses' formidable back three can win them the World Cup
The Lionesses produced a resolute defensive display to see off Colombia and have all the tools to go on and win the tournament
England will face Women's World Cup co-hosts Australia in the semi-finals after Alessia Russo's strike fired them past Colombia and into the last four. The Lionesses initially fell behind in the game to a Leicy Santos cross-cum-shot, but Lauren Hemp levelled things up and Russo made the difference as the European champions progressed to the next round.
England settled into the game well and created a few early chances, both Rachel Daly and Russo having headers comfortably saved. It was Colombia who opened the scoring, though, with Santos' cross from the right catching out goalkeeper Mary Earps.
However, England would level before the break when Hemp pounced on some poor goalkeeping at the other end. It seemed that Colombia's Catalina Perez was going to comfortably gather a loose ball in the box but she spilled it and Hemp made sure to punish her mistake by tapping into an empty net.
The European champions carried that momentum into the second half and started well, marking that good spell with Russo's goal. It was a great pass from Georgia Stanway to put her in on goal and she applied a finish to match.
Colombia rallied and made it nervy towards the end but England held on and are back in a major tournament semi-final and what is sure to be a superb encounter with Australia in Sydney on Wednesday.
GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Stadium Australia...
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