Thrilling Victory for England: Russo's Goal Secures Women's World Cup Semi-final Clash with Australia
England defeat Colombia 2-1 in Women's World Cup quarter-finals thanks to Alessia Russo's winning goal, securing their spot in the semi-finals against Australia
Alessia Russo scored a goal in the second half, securing a 2-1 victory for England against Colombia in the Women's World Cup quarter-finals. This win sets up a thrilling semi-final clash with Australia. Despite concerns about the previous exhausting match against Nigeria, England displayed a significantly enhanced performance in Sydney.
England fell behind in the 44th minute after an impressive strike by Leicy Santos, breaking Mary Earps' near-impenetrable defense for only the second time in the tournament. However, just before halftime, a disastrous mistake from Colombia goalkeeper Catalina Perez enabled Lauren Hemp to score the equalizer, with the final kick of the half.
It was another individual error at the back that allowed Russo through to score England's winner in the 63rd minute, netting her second goal of the tournament.
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England held on to their lead while Colombia pushed for an equalizer in the last 30 minutes. They successfully finished the game and secured a spot in the semi-finals where they will face co-hosts Australia. Interestingly, Australia is the only team that has defeated the Lionesses under the guidance of Sarina Wiegman. Reflecting on the match, the England manager expressed, "Once again, we faced a formidable challenge, but we were prepared for it. Our team displayed great resilience, and our performance in the first half was quite impressive."
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"Our lack of precision with the ball was a vulnerability, allowing them to pose a significant threat on the counter-attacks, resulting in us conceding a goal. However, we managed to make a comeback before the first half concluded. Initially, I had mistakenly believed that our goalkeeper had already secured the ball, only to discover that it had found its way into the goal."
"[In the] second half we pushed, we found a way to keep that score and win the final duels. I just hoped we would have finished the game off sooner because we could have."
How England saw off Colombia
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Lauren Hemp capitalized on a mistake made by Colombia's goalkeeper Catalina Perez to score England's equalizer.
Colombia made a strong start, but Catalina Usme, who scored the winning goal against Jamaica in the previous round, shot straight at Earps. On the defensive side, Colombia displayed great determination, blocking attempts from Russo and Hemp. Their efforts were so intense that Carolina Arias had to be substituted due to an injury.
Both teams continued exchanging blows as Rachel Daly made two rapid attempts. The first was a header straight at Perez, while the second was a curling shot just wide from outside the penalty box.
In the 44th minute, Colombia took the lead with a moment of brilliance from the impressive Santos. Near the top-right corner of the area, she squared up to Daly before elegantly striking the ball into the far corner, leaving a leaping Earps helpless to save it.
But the Lionesses had a strong response and managed to equalize with the last kick of the first half. Perez rushed to intercept Russo's initial shot but fumbled the save. As she desperately tried to prevent the ball from going in, Russo's delicate touch guided it beneath the goalkeeper. This created an opportunity for Hemp to skillfully maneuver around Perez and calmly place the ball into the wide-open net.
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Leicy Santos scored a stunning goal to see Colombia ahead
Colombia immediately fired a warning shot as the second half began, with Mayra Ramirez forcefully striking the ball into the side of the net. However, the Lionesses once again seized the opportunity presented by a Colombian mistake to take the lead. Russo, unable to control a pass from Georgia Stanway, allowed the ball to slip through. Seizing her chance, the Arsenal forward swiftly moved away, guiding the ball wide before confidently striking it into the bottom corner of the net.
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In the second half, Mary Earps executed a remarkable save to prevent Lorena Bedoya from scoring. However, Colombia continued to apply pressure for the remaining 30 minutes. Their most promising opportunity arose in the 71st minute, where Earps displayed her agility by making a sensational one-handed save, thwarting Lorena Bedoya's long-range shot.
Hemp praises connection with Russo
Colombia's Manuela Vanegas, Ramirez, and Caicedo all missed their shots in a frantic period of eight minutes of added time. Despite the Colombian team's relentless efforts for an equalizer, England managed to hold on and secure their place in the World Cup semi-finals for the third consecutive time.England's goalscorer, Lauren Hemp, expressed her exhilaration, commenting on the incredible feeling she experienced. She admitted feeling thoroughly exhausted, as did most of her teammates. She emphasized the exceptional performance they displayed and highlighted the unwavering determination of the squad. Ultimately, Hemp expressed immense pride in the team.
We were in control for the majority of the game. Despite a few counter-attacks from the opposing team, we were well-prepared and successfully handled their threats. Every time we had possession of the ball, we were confident in our ability to generate scoring opportunities. Our team showed exceptional performance on Saturday, and we hope to maintain this level of play going forward.
Recently, we have made some adjustments to our formation, and as a collective, we have become highly adaptable. With a deep squad, we have numerous players who can step in and have a significant impact, changing the outcome of the game.
"I am thoroughly enjoying my new role. Whenever I step on the pitch, I experience an immense sense of freedom. Although I have always cherished playing on the wing, I currently feel empowered to venture down either the left or right side whenever I please. Moreover, the bond I have formed with Alessia is incredibly robust at this moment in time.
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Hemp says her connection with Russo is 'strong' after both players scored against Colombia
The initial one was a bit messy and I didn't anticipate the ball coming towards me, but the rapport we have is incredibly strong. Alessia's ability to score, as she just demonstrated, is remarkable, and playing with her is a surreal experience.
I still believe I have room for improvement. I constantly strive to achieve the best version of myself. However, as a team, we currently find ourselves in a robust position, filled with confidence. I eagerly anticipate our match against Australia in just a few days.
"This is my desired destination. I aspire to perform on the grandest platforms across the globe, and at present, we find ourselves in the semi-finals. Euphoria overwhelms me, and my anticipation knows no bounds.
The ambience here has been extraordinary, and I anticipate that it will be astounding once again. I believe that such situations often bring out the best in me. Yesterday, we excelled tremendously, and hopefully, we shall replicate the same accomplishment in a few days' time."
Bright: I love England's mentality
England captain Millie Bright to We News:"It's incredible, we've made it to the semi-finals, which was our ultimate goal. Our performance was exceptional. We did concede a goal, but in a World Cup, it's expected to face such challenges.
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"We executed when necessary, displaying clinical precision and the determination to overcome a 1-0 deficit. This marked a significant improvement in our performance, as we showcased the desired style of football and demonstrated our true capabilities."
I admire the team's mentality. It's something I always emphasize in every game because I understand the team's strength both mentally, physically, and technically. Tonight, we displayed a perfect blend of all these aspects.
Reaching this position has required immense dedication and effort, with mentality playing a crucial role. It serves as the foundation in football, regardless of who we are up against.
"For us, we don't underestimate, we don't take anything for granted and we work our socks off every single week."
Russo: We're keeping the dream alive
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Russo made it 2-1 in the second half to win the game for England
England goalscorer Alessia Russo to ITV Sport:
"I'm ecstatic. We're maintaining the dream. Colombia is an exceptional team and they have exceeded expectations in this World Cup. It was an incredibly challenging match, but we are simply thrilled to have reached the semifinals.
We definitely had to show determination. We have had to dig deep since the beginning of the tournament. With their multitude of skilled players who can create problems instantly, our defensive line performed brilliantly tonight. We remained secure and emerged victorious.
There is much work to be done, and I believe the strength of our team lies in our constant drive to seek improvement, even after reaching the semifinals. There is a significant amount of work ahead of us, but we will take the time to recover and rest before taking on the challenge once again.
It is an exhilarating experience - what more could one ask for? To compete against the top teams, with Australia being the hosts. Colombia already had an enthusiastic group of fans present [on Saturday], giving us a glimpse of what to expect, but I am filled with anticipation.
"You can always dare to dream, but we'll be working hard."
Abadia: We are not satisfied, but we have peace of mind
Colombia head coach Nelson Abadia:We committed mistakes that should be avoided. Despite our dissatisfaction, we find solace in the fact that we delivered an exceptional performance in the World Cup, showcasing the progress of Colombian football over the years. Perhaps our downfall today was a result of poor execution. The errors we made were a reflection of our human nature rather than technical or tactical flaws.
What's next?
England is gearing up for an upcoming crucial match against Australia in the semi-finals of the Women's World Cup. This highly anticipated game is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, August 16, with kick-off set for 11 am.What is the schedule?
Spain and Sweden are set to clash in the initial semi-final match scheduled for August 15th in Auckland. The next day, on August 16th, Australia and England will go head-to-head at the Accor Stadium in Sydney. This stadium will also be the venue for the final on August 20th.Furthermore, a thrilling third-place play-off will take place in Brisbane on August 19th, just a day before the grand finale.
