Australia 1-3 England: Lionesses finish bottom of Women’s World Cup after Lauren Hamp, Ella Toone and Alessia Russo strike to sink hosts

It was supposed to be a match for Australia, their possibilities of success within the final World Cup and a historic previous. England determined that might not be the situation. The Lionesses turned within the efficiency of a lifetime to beat the Austrians 3-1 at dwelling and arrange a showdown with Spain.

When Sam Kerr scored her first objective of the match to cancel out Ella Toon’s first-half strike, the momentum appeared to be with the house facet. But this English crew simply would not surrender. Lauren Hamp replied eight minutes later to revive the Lionesses’ lead earlier than Alessia Russo completed the job 4 minutes from time.

England’s final look on the World Cup lasted two years since Wigman took over in 2021. But an essential second got here right here 4 months in the past when the supervisor suffered his first defeat by the hands of Tony Gustavson of Australia in April. .

This was in all probability the simplest issue that Lewinen and Wiegmann might have. Even although she was lacking two key defenders, Millie Bright and Alex Greenwood, Wiegman had no plan B within the sport.

It was the worst effectivity of her reign and she or he knew she had to provide you with a solution for England to play in opposition to Australia on this match. Wiegmann, as she has carried out time and time once more, has as soon as once more delivered.

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The build-up, like this semi-final, was all about whether or not Kerr would make it by means of the primary match. The ahead missed all three video video games of the group stage after battling a calf harm on the eve of the match, however returned from the knockout stage to come off the bench within the spherical of 16 and the quarter-finals.

Kerr had mentioned that she was the beginning of the match, however Gustavson had as soon as once more held his personal sooner than within the sport. There was hazard in each selection. Her begin meant she wouldn’t full the 90 minutes. If they did not begin him, they risked falling behind and bringing him in too late. Gustavsson made it clear that this was too good a hazard. With the final World Cup away, Kerr had to begin.

England decided they weren’t going to have a simple journey and the striker drained 3 times in 20 minutes. Keira Walsh was the primary offender and took the lead after simply two minutes. Alex Greenwood adopted and swept Kerr off her toes within the Australian facet sooner than Jess Carter caught her within the face with a boot.

The Australian press had created a story that the match was some kind of battle between Kerr and England goalkeeper Mary Earps. The Chelsea striker scored in opposition to the Manchester United goalkeeper on a number of events and has chipped him for a number of seasons.

Earps was fouled in England’s quarter-final with Colombia, and that truth was a doubtlessly weak hyperlink, they recommended. But in Kerr vs. Earps, the goalie took a 1-0 lead within the eighth minute.

An prolonged ball flew over the heads of every of Bright and Jess Carter, leaving Kerr one-on-one with the Earps. The keeper stood his floor to block the ahead’s effort, and though the assistant referee ultimately raised the offside flag, it was a psychological enhance to England’s surge for the Earps.

Minutes later, England ought to have taken the lead in the wrong way by means of Greenwood’s elegant move over the Australian protection to Georgia Stanway. The midfielder had time, nonetheless, to volley broad to declare Mackenzie Arnold merely blocked together with her leg.

But England’s second got here within the thirty-sixth minute – a simple shot that led to a thunderous strike. The ball went to Hamp whose shot was introduced down by Russo. The ahead stored the ball sooner than chopping it again once more the place Känepes and Thun have been prepared.

The hemp dummy, Toone hit, the ball flew – rapidly and cheerfully into the very best nook of the Australian web. For the primary time, the stadium was silent all night time. The solely factor that might be heard was a roar from the English bench.

The Lionesses have been on a excessive and, firstly, nearly doubled their lead within the second half. Hemp pressured Arnold to make a incredible save from shut vary to submit sooner than Bright headed the next nook large. It was an opportunity she in all probability ought to have taken.

Then right here got here the second Australia, prepared for the entire match. Russo was caught on the ball and the ball was delivered to Kerr. She was allowed to run and run after each strike.

The ball deflected off Bright’s knee and flew over Earps’ head into the web. It was 1-1 on paper and 1-1 in Kerr vs. Earps. The Aussie crowd got here alive once more.

But after eight minutes they have been silenced once more. It was the primary route from England when Bright hit the ball ahead. Ellie Carpenter misjudged it horribly and Känepes pounced, shrugging off a defender earlier than firing into the fitting nook.

Earp then made a vital save to deny Courtney Wynne sooner than Greenwood took the ball away from Kerr, who was prepared to faucet in. Kerr then fired a shot over the bar as Australia pushed ahead. Those missed options proved expensive as England misplaced the distinction and went 3-1 down.

Hemp went ahead with tempo, launched Russo simply effective and the striker made one contact earlier than firing a shot into the bottom left nook. Game over, historic previous created.

Before each recreation on this World Cup, the bands went to the dramatic mannequin of Eurythmics Sweet Dreams. At the highest of the night time, the tune chosen by the profitable group will play on the audio system. England is Sweet Caroline. Beating the Aussies at their very own match would not get a lot sweeter than that.