Women's World Cup

Second-half Alessia Russo strike sends England into World Cup semi-final

Colombia took the lead but England fought back and will next face tournament co-hosts Australia

England's Alessia Russo celebrates scoring their side's winning goal. Photograph: Isabel Infantes/PA Wire

Sat Aug 12 2023 - 13:57

England 2 Colombia 1

Alessia Russo fired England through to their third World Cup semi-final with a second-half strike to complete a 2-1 comeback over Colombia at a sold-out Stadium Australia.

Leicy Santos gave Colombia the lead when she looped an effort over Mary Earps after 44 minutes, but saw her opener cancelled out after Lauren Hemp pounced on an error by Colombian keeper Catalina Perez six minutes into first half stoppage time.

Georgia Stanway set up Russo’s low finish to hand the Lionesses the lead after 63 minutes, and while Colombia pushed forward against the European champions an equaliser ultimately proved just out of reach.

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England will next face tournament co-hosts Australia, who beat France 7-6 on penalties in the early kick-off.

Colombia, who had eliminated world number two side Germany with a 2-1 victory in the group stage, looked to complete another giant-killing here.

The Lionesses, meanwhile, were without the services of Lauren James, with Ella Toone coming into Sarina Wiegman’s side while the Chelsea forward served the first game of her two-match suspension.

Russo told ITV: “I’m buzzing, the semi-final of a World Cup, we’re keeping the dream alive.

“Obviously Colombia are a top team and I think they’ve shown more than that this World Cup. It was a really tough test, but so happy to get three points and be in the semis.

“We’ve had to dig deep from the first game and that’s what it’s like, they have so many talented players who can cause you trouble within a second.

“But I thought our backline were brilliant tonight, we kept it locked down, won and now we’re in the semis.”

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