Alessia Russo’ second-half strike saw England snatch a dramatic comeback 2-1 win against Colombia to reach 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Semi-Finals.
Russo rifled in a 63rd minute winner from Georgia Stanway’s through ball pass to complete a dramatic comeback after Lauren Hemp punished a spilled save by Catalina Perez in the sixth minute of first-half injury-time.
Colombia had initially taken the lead through a clinical 44th minute strike from Leicy Santos into the top left corner.
Hemp post-match described their comeback to ITV as “an amazing feeling” despite feeling “knackered” such was the physicality of the match.
The Manchester City forward also applauded her teammates for their performance, as she added: “You saw the resilience of the team. We controlled most of the game. They had a few counters and we knew what they would bring. The team were really special today.
“We’ve changed formation a bit in recent games. As a group we’re really adaptable. This squad is special and we have so many characters.”
Hemp acknowledged that she didn’t expect to score England’s equaliser, as she continued: “The first goal was scrappy, I didn’t expect the ball to come out to me. The link up with Alessia [Russo] is so strong and when she can finish like that.”
England will now meet Australia at Stadium Australia, Sydney, Australia on Wednesday 16 August at 11am UK Time, after the Aussies defeated France 7-6 on penalties following a goalless draw to qualify for their first Women’s World Cup semi-final.
Amidst fierce criticism for a below-par performance in their Round of 16 win over Nigeria, England were forced to ride their luck in the third minute as Mary Earps saved Catalina Usme’s curled strike towards the top-left corner.
Colombia however lost right-back Carolina Arias in the sixth minute as she went down injured in a collision with teammate – Perez, during which she crucially blocked Hemp’s follow-up shot after Alessia Russo’s header fell her way, before Russo fired the deflection wide.
England thereafter grew into the game but Lucy Bronze and Russo saw headers blocked whilst Linda Caicedo curled wide for Colombia in the 15th minute.
Colombia however had dropped deeper defensively than in their previous matches at this tournament and were almost punished in the 27th minute, as Rachel Daly delievered a powerful header upon goal but Perez made a crucial save.
Daly then rifled over the top-right corner a minute later from long range as Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses continued to dominate play.
Caicedo meanwhile continued to cause issues for England’s defence with her movement and almost snatched the lead for the last remaining Americas team in the 38th minute, as she dribbled inside the box from Mayra Ramirez’s cross but her shot was blocked by Earps.
England failed to heed that warning as six minutes later, a move started by Usme and Diana Ospina found Caicedo, who played across for Santos up the right side of the box and she struck a clinical strike beyond Earps’ reach into the top-left corner to spark celebrations amongst Colombia fans.
Santos’ strike also meant that England had fallen behind for the first time at this World Cup, until Russo shot from Bronze’s headed pass in the sixth minute of injury-time was spilled by Perez for Hemp to duly poke in to restore parity at the break.
Wiegman’s Lionesses though were given an immediate scare at the start of the second half as Santos teed up Mayra Ramirez, but the Levante midfielder fired wide of her near-right corner to miss a chance to restore their lead.
Colombia’s defensive resilience was soon tested as Daly got a header upon goal from a 52nd minute corner at the left post, only for Perez to make a crucial save.
England’s quality eventually showed through as Stanway played a 63rd minute through ball forward for Russo, with the 24 year-old calmly wriggling into space to curl low across into the far-left corner to put the Lionesses on course for a third Women’s World Cup semi-final.
Colombia’s fading dreams took a further blow five minutes later as Perez was substituted following a collision, with 20 year-old Natalia Giraldo brought on for her World Cup debut.
Lorena Bedoya almost pulled Colombia back level in the 71st minute as she unleashed a long-range strike, which Earps marginally cleared with a right-handed punch behind the goal.
Substitute, Ivonne Chacon replaced Ospina in the 78th minute and was quickly in the thick of the action four minutes later, having played an one-two move with Caicedo but her shot was blocked behind for an subsequently cleared corner.
England eventually dug deep defensively to snatch victory and set up a blockbuster semi-final against tournament co-hosts, Australia, who are the only team to have beaten the Lionesses since Wiegman took charge – having won 2-0 in a friendly in Brentford, London, in April.
In her post-match press conference, Wiegman praised Colombia for providing her Lionesses with a difficult test, as she commented: “A very tough challenge but we didn’t expect anything else.
“We showed resilience, in the first half we played very good. In moments we were sloppy on the ball and they were really dangerous on the counter.
“We conceded but we came back. I actually thought their keeper had the ball for our goal.
“Second half we pushed, we found a way to keep that score and win the final duals. I just hoped we would have finished the game off sooner because we could have.
“We know they are dangerous but again I am so proud of the team, we find a way to score to win the duels. If we had kept the ball a bit better, we could have won it a little earlier.”
Teams
England: Mary Earps, Jess Carter, Millie Bright, Alex Greenwood, Lucy Bronze, Georgia Stanway, Keira Walsh, Rachel Daly, Ella Toone, Alessia Russo (Kelly 84′), Lauren Hemp (England 90+3′)
Substitutes: Niamh Charles, Jordan Nobbs, Hannah Hampton, Lotter Wubben-Moy, Esme Morgan, Laura Coombs, Chloe Kelly, Bethany England, Katie Zelem, Ellie Roebuck, Katie Robinson
Colombia: Catalina Perez (Giraldo 68′), Carolina Arias (Guzman 10′), Jorelyn Carabali, Daniela Arias, Manuela Vanegas, Diana Ospina (Chacon 78′), Lorena Bedoya, Mayra Ramirez, Leicy Santos, Linda Caicedo, Catalina Usme
Substitutes: Daniela Montoya, Maria Camila Reyes, Marcela Restrepo, Sandra Sepulveda, Natalia Giraldo, Angela Baron, Ana Maria Guzman, Lady Andrade, Monica Ramos, Ivonne Chacon, Daniela Caracas, Elexa Bahr
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