Sam Kerr, one of the most-feared strikers in women’s football, finally started for Australia, and scored what was perhaps the goal of the tournament, but it wasn’t enough as England’s Lionesses produced an accomplished and controlled performance to win their Women’s World Cup semifinal 3-1 in front of a capacity crowd at Stadium Australia in Sydney. Ella Toone sent England on their way with a first-half screamer, and after Kerr’s dramatic equaliser threatened to take the roof off the venue, Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo scored the goals that meant the Matildas’ emotion-driven campaign would end in tears. England now face Spain, also first-time finalists, on Sunday, while Australia take on Sweden 24 hours earlier to try and seal a third-place finish that would still be a monumental achievement.
It could have been so different had the usually lethal Kerr not missed a golden chance to equalise a second time. Kerr’s pass had released Cortnee Vine down the right, and after her shot brought a superb full-stretch save from Mary Earps, Australia had a corner that was swung in to the six-yard box. Earps could manage only a feeble punch that went straight to Kerr. It was an awkward height, but from point-blank range, she couldn’t hit the target.
Instead of the scores being level again, England went up the other end and killed the game. Once again, it was the outstanding Hemp who was the creator, picking up the ball near the centre circle and weaving her way through traffic before reversing a pass to Russo. The angle wasn’t in her favour, but Russo’s finish across Mackenzie Arnold in the Australia goal was unerring.
On the balance of play, the result was no more than England deserved. They started much the better, winning back possession quickly and stretching their opponents. The stadium was a heaving mass of gold and green, but apart from a Kerr run and shot that Earps saved – replays showed she was a yard offside anyway – there was little for them to cheer in the early stages.
A delightful Alex Greenwood ball from the left touchline saw a Georgia Stanway effort that Arnold saved at her near post, and Russo then hit the side netting when put through by Toone. But with Australia struggling to hold on to the ball, a goal seemed almost inevitable.
It was Russo that set it up, driving down the left side of the box before cutting the ball back. Hemp let it go through to the fast-arriving Toone, whose emphatic driven finish into the far corner gave Arnold not a sniff of a chance.
Australia were much improved after the break, with Mary Fowler and Caitlin Foord able to get better service to Kerr. But the goal when it did come was all of her own making. In the 63rd minute, she picked up the ball in her own half and sprinted forward. Millie Bright, her Chelsea teammate, kept backing off, and Kerr let fly from about six yards outside the box. She connected so perfectly that the ball flew over the diving Earps and under the bar.
The stadium was still abuzz from the celebrations when Hemp crossed from the left for Russo to head fractionally wide. But the momentum was clearly with Australia, and there was a five-minute passage of play when England looked distinctly vulnerable.
After two stunning goals, the third was a throwback to the days when England were disparaged as a long-ball side. Bright launched one long, and Hemp took advantage of the confusion in the heart of the Australian defence to nip in and bury the ball in the bottom corner.
But Kerr and Australia weren’t done. A glancing header from a left-wing cross went just over the bar, after a last-ditch tackle had stopped her getting a shot away. Then came the costly miss from the corner, and Russo’s decisive full stop at the other end. Australia gave it everything, but against a side that have now lost just one of their last 38 matches, it wasn’t quite enough.