Australia 1-3 England: Lionesses see off co-hosts to set up Spain showdown in their first Women's World Cup final

England person made much history, reaching their archetypal Women's World Cup last aft beating Australia 3-1 to acceptable up a showdown with Spain connected Sunday.

The pre-match amble focused connected who would beryllium considered the underdog - the Euro 2022 champions oregon tourney co-hosts - arsenic good arsenic the affluent sporting past betwixt the 2 countries.

And it each made for an entertaining semi-final astatine Stadium Australia. England drew archetypal humor arsenic Ella Toone (36) curled location a superb effort arsenic the Matildas conceded their archetypal World Cup extremity since the 2nd radical crippled against Nigeria - a tally of good implicit 5 hours.

Australia saw their talismanic skipper Sam Kerr instrumentality to the XI, and she had her inevitable accidental successful proceedings successful the 63rd minute, hammering a sensational effort location from astir 25 yards.

But England's tourney pedigree began to radiance done arsenic Lauren Hemp (71) saw the Lionesses backmost up soon after, earlier Alessia Russo (86) made definite of their spot successful Sunday's showpiece last against Spain.

"Australia person had an unthinkable tournament, they grew into the tournament. They had immoderate setbacks, they had to triumph their past group-stage crippled and past they got amended and better.

"I conscionable said to [assistant manager] Arjan, having the accidental arsenic a manager oregon a subordinate to marque it to 2 finals is truly special. I ne'er instrumentality thing for granted, but it's similar I'm surviving successful a fairytale oregon something."

Kerr wasted nary clip successful reminding the satellite of her talent, arsenic she raced done connected extremity successful the seventh minute. Her eventual changeable was well-saved by Mary Earps, who got down low, arsenic the offside emblem was raised. At the different end, Mackenzie Arnold besides continued her good tournament, denying Georgia Stanway arsenic she tried to slot location astatine the adjacent post.

The 2 teams continued to commercialized chances arsenic the fractional went on. Toone released Russo wrong the area, but lashed an effort into the broadside of the net. An Australia country past recovered Haley Raso unmarked towards the backmost post, but she besides sent her changeable wide.

It was a infinitesimal of magic from Toone successful the 36th infinitesimal that broke the deadlock. Hemp pulled it backmost for the midfielder, who past sent an arrowing effort into the apical corner, giving Arnold nary accidental of redeeming it.

As you would expect, Australia came racing retired of the traps successful the 2nd half. Their champion opening saw Mary Fowler prime retired Caitlin Foord connected the left, but the latter's effort was collected good by Earps. England besides saw openings arsenic Hemp drew a prevention from Arnold, earlier Millie Bright nodded wide from the corner.

But thing Toone could do, Kerr could lucifer arsenic she scored an arsenic arsenic stunning extremity to level. She picked up the shot connected the halfway enactment earlier lasting up against her Chelsea teammate Bright. Kerr decided to spell for extremity herself, sending a sensational, curling effort past Earps.

The Lionesses reacted good - Bronze and Russo going adjacent successful the interim 8 minutes earlier Hemp fired England backmost successful front. It was a superb shot implicit the apical from Bright to find the winger, who rounded Ellie Carpenter arsenic the Australia defender failed to support the shot nether control, earlier slotting into the net.

Australia pushed for an equaliser arsenic the timepiece ticked by, though Kerr was uncharacteristically blameworthy of wasting 2 gilt-edged chances, with Earps besides pushing distant a transverse from Cortnee Vine.

But England rode the question of unit earlier securing their spot successful Sunday's last with Russo's 3rd goal. She was recovered successful a akin presumption to her extremity against Colombia, collecting a delightful reverse walk from Hemp earlier firing into the acold corner.

England men's skipper Harry Kane connected Sky Sports News:

"Massive congratulations to the Lionesses. They merit it. "We are each down them and hopefully they tin bash it successful the final.

"We saw what happened erstwhile the Lionesses won the Euros and however overmuch it brought the state together.

"I'll beryllium watching the last retired present successful Germany."