The England Women registered a clinical 2-1 victory to beat a dark horse Columbian team to reach the semi-finals of the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023. After going 1-0 in the late first half, the Lionesses showed some incredible resilience to quickly level the scores and then take an unsaleable lead to clinch the final four birth.
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Both teams started off incredibly well and had some early chances until C Arias, Columbia's star defender Carolina Arias suffered an injury and was taken off the field. But despite this substitution, the South American nation battled forward and found a 1-0 lead thanks to a stunner by Leicy Santos in the 44th minute. The Columbian number 10 stepped into the box and curled the ball into the goal leaving Mary Eaps with no chance to save.
But England, in a matter of minutes, levelled the scores with a Lauren Hemp tap-in. With the ball pinging around in the box, Colombia failed to clear it away. Here ball fell to Catalina Perez, who jumped into a save but failed to control, allowing Hemp to strike.
Then in the second half, Arsenal forward Alessia Russo emerged on top to find England a 64th-minute goal to give them a 2-1 lead and seal a comfortable win. In the semi-finals, the Lionesses will take on Australia on August 16.
