Australia vs England: score, goals, highlights | Women’s World Cup 2023 semi-finals
Women's World Cup 2023 semi-final: Australia vs England
Full time: Australia 1-3 England
England capitalise on Australian mishaps to reach their first ever Women's World Cup final, where they'll play Spain.
England are a good team and good teams punish slightly less good teams who make mistakes. That’s essentially what happened here, with the decisive moments in the match going in The Lionesses’ favour.
There wasn’t a great deal to choose between the sides in the first 45 minutes, although you could tell England had that little bit more quality in attack and therefore carried slightly more of a threat. The two best chances came their way, with Arnold making a fine stop to deny Stanway but unable to prevent Toone’s excellent strike flying into the top corner.
The hosts rallied in the second half and persisted with crosses into the box, although they managed to find their intended targets more often after half time. That said, it took a wonder goal from Kerr to level things up just after the hour. If you haven’t seen it, I suggest you do!
Just when the momentum seemed to have swung in Australia’s favour, a defensive error allowed Hemp to sneak beyond Carpenter and prod the ball into the net. Again, The Matildas fought back and Kerr somehow volleyed wide when it seemed easier to score. Seconds later, England raced up the other end Hemp played in Russo, whose angled strike killed the game off with a few minutes to spare.
Heartbreak for Australia, the architects of their own downfall. Ruthless England march on to the final.
Spain vs England: set your alarms!
Anyway, it was all about England in the end. Who have you got for the Women's World Cup 2023 final?
A little reminder that it's another early on, with kick-off at Stadium Australia on Sunday 20 August at 6:00 a.m ET and 3:00 a.m. PT.
Don't forgot to set those alarms!
Sam Kerr wonder goal not enough for Australia
Sam Kerr's wonder goal wasn't ultimately enough for Australia, but was the highlight of the game (maybe unless you're at England fan). Here's how it sounded inside Stadium Australia.
Lauren Hemp the difference maker for England
I've literally just heard Sam Kerr say that perhaps the main difference between the teams was "quality in the final third, maybe". Lauren Hemp is a good example of that quality, coming to the fore at two crucial moments in the match. She was alert enough to catch Ellie Carpenter napping for England's second goal and then played a lovely through-ball for Alessia Russo to score the game-clinching third.
Sarina Wiegman: World Cup and European Championship master
Fancy a bit more love for Sarina Wiegman? How about this one? No coach has ever won either tournament with two different countries. You wouldn't put it past her to do it, would you?
Sarina Wiegman's incredible major tournament record
England head coach Sarina Wiegman isn't bad at this major tournament thing, is she?
Four tournaments, four finals. Two already in the bag. What are odds of a third one on Sunday?
2023 Women's World Cup final: Spain vs England
England will now take on Spain in the 2023 Women's World Cup final, the first time either nation have made it that far.
The match will again take place at Stadium Australia in Sydney, with kick off at 8:00 p.m. local time, which is 6:00 a.m. ET / 3:00 a.m. PT.
Another early one, but I'm sure it'll be worth the wait.
This will be so infuriating from an Australian point of view. The were right in this game and shot themselves in the foot with that second goal. Then they should've levelled before conceding a third seconds later.
Another good break forward down the right from Vine, Chidiac goes down in the box...nothing doing.
Surely Australia don't have it in them now?
Six minutes of injury time.
The obligatory raft of substitutions continues, with Charles on for Toone for England.
Subs on both sides
Kelly comes on for goalscorer Russo for England.
Chidiac replaces Gorry for Australia.
England break forward and Hemp plays a lovely ball through for Russo, whose angled shot beats Arnold.
Good teams punish others' mistakes, simple as that.
GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL ENGLAND! RUSSO!
That's heartbreaking for Australia. They should've been level!
Australia won't get a better opportunity than that.
Kerr should score!
What a chance! Earps flaps at a corner, it falls perfectly for Kerr, who somehow volleys wide!
Earps saves from Vine!
Vine is making a difference! Kerr plays it wide to the winger, whose low shot is parried by Earps and very nearly reaches Van Egmond, who can't quite reach it.
Chance for Kerr!
Fowler has dropped off the front much more in this second half and been rewarded. She floats a nice cross in for Kerr, who only needs the faintest of touches to direct it goalwards but gets too much on it and it gets over.
Australia swap defence for attack
Australia defender Poklinghorne goes off, attacker Van Egmond comes on. Only one thing for it.
If I'm an Australian player, I'm getting the ball to sub Courtney Vine at every opportunity. She flies past Greenwood and into the box, although her low cross is cut out.
Bright gets her head to another corner but gets it all wrong and it flies well wide. The last one was closer.
A corner for England after Russo's somewhat hopeful effort from the edge of the box is deflected wide.
Stanway lines one up from long range and hits it into the night sky. Even she saw the funny side.
What can Australia do? They were in the ascendency until that defensive horror show.
Vine on for Australia
Vine on for Raso as Australia look to get back into this.
Carpenter has to deal with that long ball. If she doesn't, Hunt could. Neither of them do, the ball bounces and Hemp prods it past Arnold.
GOOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLL ENGLAND! HEMP!
Oh dear. That's a defensive mess from Australia. Hemp pounces!
Russo goes closer!
Inches wide! Russo gets her head to Daly's cross and it flies just past the post.
Bronze goes close!
I'm not sure if Lucy Bronze meant that but she dinked what looked to be a cross up to the back post and it very nearly floated over Arnold and in, bouncing just wide of the line before being cleared.
Kerr tests Earps!
Another chance for Kerr, who gets on the end of a cross but heads straight at Earps. Australia are on top!
Cooney-Cross's corner very nearly floats over Kerr and in at the back post! Cleared.
A new lease of life for the hosts, who win a corner after more good work from Kerr in the box.
I was screaming for her to pass it left. What do I know?
What did I say about Australia's threat? Kerr picks up the ball in the England half, drives goalwards and fires an unstoppable shot into the top corner!
Australia's threat is limited to crosses into the box and too many of them have been wayward.
Fowler has already been much more involved in this second half, which can only be a good thing for Australia. She lays the ball off for Catley, who hits her cross into the stratrosphere.
Bright heads just wide!
And from the resulting corner, Millie Bright heads just wide at the back post!
Hemp close to England second!
Earps has had nothing to do, whereas Arnold has just made her second good stop of the game! Hemp shoots from the edge of the box and the Aussie keep has to react quickly to parry wide.
Another promising attack from Australia down the right but Cooney-Cross careless overhits her pass to Raso, who was in a perfect position to cross.
The Australia defender gets away with it as Greenwood's corner goes over everyone and out of play.
Corner to England. Hunt nudges the ball out when it looked to be as if she could've left it.
That must be almost the first time Fowler has found space in the England half. She has time to turn and crosses to the far post for Foord, who can only head the ball weakly into Earps' arms.
A bright start from the Aussies. Carpenter gets forward and hoists the ball up towards Kerr, but she's the only attacking player in the box and can't get enough on it to trouble Earps.
Australia kick off second half
Off we go again!
About to get back underway at Stadium Australia!
England away kit
Here's that England kit I liked the look of at the start of the game. What do you think? Hot or not?
England 45 minutes away from first Women's World Cup final
So are Australia, right enough.
Or...could we have extra time? Australia not looking massively threatening at the moment but that could easily change.
Half time: Australia 0-1 England
No injury time played, which is refreshing. The half-time whistle goes and "I Want It That Way" immediately comes on.
A narrow lead for England in a game which has been fairly even, although you can just tell that The Lionesses have a little bit more qualify in attack and carry slightly of a threat as a result.
Apart from an early effort from Sam Kerr, who was well offside, the best opportunities have fallen to the European champions. Georgia Stanway will probably feel she should’ve given her team an early lead, although Mackenzie Arnold did make a fine stop. Alessio Russo then smashed into the side-netting from a tight angle, before Ella Toone broke the deadlock 10 minutes before the break with a fine strike from a well-worked throw-in.
Australia have huffed and puffed but created little, with England able to deal with their crosses into the box with relatively few problems. Still, the way The Matildas came back into the game towards half time will offer them encouragement.
Almost for Kerr!
A lovely ball into the box from Catley very nearly lands on the head of Kerr, but it's slightly too high and the chance is gone.
....which leads to nothing.
The right flank looks to be the best bet for Australia at the moment. Cooney-Cross lofts a fairly hopeful ball into the box and it's cleared for a corner....
A fine save from Arnold to deny Hemp, although the attacker is judged to have fouled Catley before heading goalwards.
Mary Fowler has hardly been in this game and that's again the case here as she tries to get in behind the England defence, but the pass is overhit.
A little bit of keep-ball from England as they look to keep things tight until half time.
A good response from Australia, as Gorry lines one up from the edge of the box. Too close to Earps, though.
A well-worked throw-in from England sees them work the ball to Toone, who smashes it into the top corner on the angle!
GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAL ENGLAND! TONE!
Sorry, Aussie, that was a proper commentator's curse. What a strike from Toone!
A little shift in momentum with Australia offering a bit more in attack in the last few minutes.
Big chance for Australia!
Role reversal this time as Raso dries at the England defence and feeds Carpenter on on the overlap. The full-back gets into a great position in the box but her cross is wild and goes out of play on the opposite side.
Walsh trying to get Hemp in behind but there's too much on it and it runs though to Arnold.
Raso...just wide!
The corner falls to Raso at the back post and her shot is deflected just wide!
A promising attack the hosts as Carpenter finally gets forward and feeds Raso, who tries to beat Daly but doesn't, although she ends up winning a corner.
The Aussies getting their own back with a couple of borderline challenges in the last few minutes. Raso leaves one on Daly, who goes down, although she should be fine to carry on.
A rare touch for Earps as Raso tries to get on the end of a high ball into the box at the back post. She gets a touch on it but the England goalkeeper claims it.
Gorry giving as good as she's been getting there with a robust challenge - shall we say - on Stanway in midfield. No complaints though, surprisingly.
As well as being on the front foot, England are putting it about quite a bit too. Toone slides in on Gorry and gives away another free-kick.
England are definitely looking the more dangerous at the moment. More last-ditch defending stops Russo from getting a shot away inside the box.
Stanway gets a flyer as she looks to play the ball out wide to Bronze. That flew off her boot.
Russo...side netting!
A nice bit of build-up play from England leads to Russo optimistically cracking an effort in from a tight angle. She gets a good connection on if but can't sneak it in at the near post.
Not quite happening for Australia in attack so far. Gorry tries to get Carpenter in behind Daly but overhits the pass and the ball runs out of play.
England are starting to crank things up a bit here, Hemp makes a break into the box but can't quite get away from Australia defence, who manage to snuff her out.
A lovely diagonal ball from Daly almost finds the run of Bronze in behind Catley, who does just enough to put the England wing-back off.
Greenwood fouls Kerr
A second foul on Kerr and a first yellow card of the game. Needless from Greenwood, Kerr was well inside his own half.
Huge chance for Stanway!
That could easily have been the opening goal! A superb ball in behind by Greenwood finds the run of Stanway, who has a clear sight of goal but is denied by a fine stop from Arnold!
Kerr through...offside!
A huge roar goes up as Kerr is sent clean through on goal. She gets into the box and sees her shot well saved by Earps, although she was well offside and the flag (eventually went up).
No sooner had I said that, Mary Earps finally got involved. A simple backpass to deal with for the England goalkeeper.
Neither goalkeeper has touched the ball yet. It'll come though...
Plenty of possession for England in defence, with Australia seemingly happy to let them have it there.
First couple of minutes have all been played out in midfield.
A first involvement for Kerr, who gets taken down by Walsh in the centre circle. Was that an early marker put down by the England midfielder?
Underway in Sydney!
Here. We. Go.
England get us going!
England wearing their rather lovely blue away kit, which is inspired by an early 1990s away kit.
And come off it did.
Pre-match handshakes and we're good to go.
Australian anthem
Time for the roof to come off Stadium Australia.
National anthem time!
England are up first. After signing "God Save the Queen" all their lives, will they remember it's "King" now?
Australia vs England line-ups
The teams are in the tunnel, almost time to go! Here's a little reminder of how the two teams will line up:
Australia
Arnold; Carpenter, Hunt, Polkinghorne, Catley; Raso, Gorry, Cooney-Cross, Foord; Kerr, Fowler.
England
Earps; Carter, Bright, Greenwood; Bronze, Walsh, Stanway, Daly; Toone; Russo, Hemp.
Who is Tori Penso, the referee for Australia vs England at the 2023 Women’s World Cup?
We hope it's not going to be the case in Sydney, but occasionally the match official has as big a role to play in a game as the player's on either side. You may (or may not) be familiar with today's American referee Toni Penso.
Here's everything you need to know about the woman in the middle.
Australia vs England: head-to-head
This will be the first meeting between Australia and England in the Women's World Cup, although they have met on six previous occasions elsewhere. The Matildas have won twice, The Lionesses three times, with one draw.
Australia won the most recent meeting between the teams in London in April this year, ending England's 30-game unbeaten run. It's the only time Sarina Wiegman has tasted defeat as Lionesses coach.
England's Women's World Cup record
England, meanwhile, have played in six of nine Women's World Cups, including each of the last five. They made it as far as the quarter-finals in each of their first three appearances and have reached the semi-finals in the last two, finishing third in 2015 and fourth in 2019. Since then, they won the European Championships in 2022 and will want to keep that winning habit going at the World Cup.
Australia's Women's World Cup record
Australia have never done as well at a World Cup as they have at this one. They've taken part in eight of the nine tournaments so far, missing only the first one in 1991. The were eliminated in the group stage on their first three appearances, before reaching three quarter-finals and a round of 16. Semi-finals is nose bleed territory, but they're here and their noses are dry.
Australia ready to make World Cup history
The Australian team were spotted having a leisurely stroll out and about in Sydney earlier on Wednesday (as leisurely as can be on the day of a Women's World Cup semi-final). Time to flick that switch, though, and get those game faces on. Ah, they're already on. Great.
England arrive at Stadium Australia
England looking relaxed as they arrive at Stadium Australia in Sydney. How intimidating an atmosphere are they going to be up against and how is it going to affect them? Well, we'll find out soon enough.
40 minutes to go!
How did England get to the Women's World Cup 2023 semi-finals?
England came into the tournament as one of the favourites, which intensified after the USWNT's shock early exit to Sweden. Bar one game, they've arguably not been that impressive, although they've still managed to record victories in every match but one, which was decided on penalties.
The Lionesses finished the group stage with a perfect record, surprisingly struggling to see off minnows Haiti (1-0) before taking China apart (6-1). The knockout rounds have proved a stern test, with Nigeria taking them to a shootout after a goalless draw, while Linda Caicedo's Colombia gave them a scare in the quarter-finals (2-1).
England's Lauren James completes two-match suspension
Chelsea forward Lauren James was one of England's best performers in the group stage, scoring the winner against Denmark and two more in the rout of China. But she inexplicably trampled over the back of Nigeria's Michelle Alozie in the second half of the countries' round-of-16 meeting and was sent off, which was described as "out of character" by almost everyone in the England camp.
The nature of the incident (violent conduct) meant James was handed an extended suspension rather than the normal one-match ban, which means she misses today's semi-final. She'll be available to play on Sunday if England reach the final, though.
How did Australia get to the Women's World Cup 2023 semi-finals?
The fact that The Matildas have made it to the last four without their key player has come a surprise to some but has given the whole nation confidence ahead of the game against England, who are theoretically superior in most positions.
Australia topped Group B despite a 3-2 defeat to Nigeria, with a 4-0 thrashing of Canada their most impressive display of the tournament so far. The hosts also impressively saw off Denmark 2-0 in the round of 16, although their quarter-final clash against France could have gone either way and was eventually settled from the penalty spot.
Sam Kerr back in attack for Australia against England
When you've scored 63 goals in 122 games for your country, you play, it's as simple as that. Sam Kerr suffered a calf injury at the worst time possible: the final training session before a home World Cup got underway. The Chelsea forward has come off the bench in the last two matches and ended up playing for over an hour in the quarter-final penalty shootout win over France, which has convinced manager Tony Gustavsson she's ready to start.
England team to play Australia: Lauren James suspended
If it ain't broke, you don't fix it. No changes for England, who have won every match at the tournament so far, although a couple of them only just. Attacker Lauren James remains suspended after her red card against Nigeria but would be available to play if The Lionesses reach the final.
Earps; Carter, Bright, Greenwood; Bronze, Walsh, Stanway, Daly; Toone; Russo, Hemp.
Australia team to play England: Sam Kerr starts
Big news from Australia! Captain and taliswoman Sam Kerr has been deemed fit enough to start for the first time in the tournament and will lead the line alongside Mary Fowler. The Matildas did quite well without her, to be fair, but she's undoubtedly one of the world's best attackers.
Arnold; Carpenter, Hunt, Polkinghorne, Catley; Raso, Gorry, Cooney-Cross, Foord; Kerr, Fowler.
England out to spoil the Australian party
It's not going to be an easy task for the hosts, however, who are up against formidable opponents in the shape of Euro 2022 winners England. The Lionesses have consistently gone deep in recent World Cup tournaments, reaching back-to-back semi-finals before this one. Can they go one better this time around?
When was the last time a host nation reached the Women's World Cup final?
Any World Cup is always better when the host nation does well. In the women's event, ho home country has reached the final of the tournament since 1999, when the USWNT defeated China at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Could that be about to change?
Australia vs England: times, how to watch on TV, stream online | 2023 Women’s World Cup
Before we get down to business, you may still be wondering how to watch the game. If you’re in the United States then you’re in luck as there is a way and here are the details! Just be sure to stick with me too!
You can watch Australia vs England live stream on fuboTV (a free trial is available)
What time does Australia vs England kick-off?
The clash in Sydney gets underway at 8:00 p.m. local time in London, which is... 6:00 a.m. ET and 3:00 a.m. PT. What better things could you have to do on a Wednesday morning?
Over the next 90 minutes or so I’ll be bringing you build-up, team news and plenty more. Let's do this!
Hello and welcome to Australia vs England!
32 began, only three remain. Spain secured their first spot in their first ever Women's World Cup final yesterday thanks to a dramatic win over Sweden. Now, hosts Australia and European champions England will bid to do the same at Stadium Australia in Sydney. One of these two will be coming back on Sunday for the final, but which one?
I’m Roddy and thanks for joining me!