England fought back to beat Colombia in the FIFA Women’s World Cup quarter-finals, after Australia pipped France in a lengthy shoot-out.
The Lionesses had to come from behind to see off Colombia 2-1, watched by over 75,000 in Stadium Australia.
Leicy Santos neat Mary Earps from the side of the 18-yard box to open the scoring approaching the interval, only for Lauren Hemp to stab home the equaliser deep into added time after goalkeeper Catalina Perez failed to gather the ball under pressure from Alessia Russo.
The Lionesses had turned the game round just after the hour mark, Georgia Stanway with the pass to the edge of the box where Russo beat her marker and under pressure fired inside the far post.
Earps had to turn a Lorena Bedoya Durango 20-yard drive over the bar, as the Lionesses maintained their lead.
England now face Australia in a semi-final clash on Wednesday 16 August, kick-off 11am UK time.
Australia edged France 7-6 on penalties following a goalless 120+ minutes, played in front of a crowd of almost 50,000.
Maëlle Lakrar was denied by goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold, before Australia’s Mary Fowler was thwarted twice close to half-time, Élisa De Almeida with a desperate clearance off the line and Pauline Peyraud-Magnin rushing out to make a block.
Peyraud-Magnin turned over Hayley Raso’s 20-yard strike, later turning away another effort from Fowler during some intense pressure from the Matildas.
Alanna Kennedy headed the ball into her own net in extra time but it was ruled out for a foul by Wendie Renard, Arnold pushed a shot from Vicki Becho over the angle in the second half of the added 30 minutes.
France brought on keeper Solène Durand for the shoot-out, which went to sudden death after Arnold tipped a penalty onto the post then struck the upright herself.
Eventually it was Cortnee Vine who settled the matter with the twentieth kick, to put Australia into the last four for the first time.
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