By Fawaz Adebisi
England advanced to the semi-finals of the 2023 Women’s World Cup after a closely contested match against a strong Colombian team, ending in a 2-1 victory.
The European champions, highly favored in Australia, showcased a more well-rounded performance despite facing a challenging environment in front of a lively crowd in Sydney.
The Lionesses displayed a solid defense and worked tirelessly in their attack.
They capitalized on a couple of fortunate opportunities, with Lauren Hemp equalizing just seven minutes after an earlier Colombian goal due to a routine gather spill by Colombia’s goalkeeper, Catalina Perez, under pressure from Alessia Russo.
Arsenal striker Russo, who had faced difficulty finding the net in previous World Cup matches, drilled in England’s second goal after a kind deflection.
Colombia’s talented attacking lineup, featuring Real Madrid’s teenage sensation Linda Caicedo, posed challenges for England, but the Lionesses, backed by a strong defensive effort from players like Millie Bright, Alex Greenwood, and Jess Carter, held their ground.
The match, played in front of a predominantly Colombian-supporting crowd of 75,784, proved to be a tough encounter. England had to overcome the absence of their top-scorer, Lauren James, who was serving a suspension.
Nevertheless, their tenacity and determination paved the way for a hard-fought victory, showcasing the resilience that has been a hallmark of their tournament performance.
Ranked 21 places lower than England, Colombia had already demonstrated their capabilities in Australia, defeating Euro 2022 finalists Germany in the group stages.
They made a spirited effort to push for an equalizer late in the match but were met with England’s strong defensive stance, resulting in a deserved victory for the Lionesses.
The next challenge for England is a match against co-hosts Australia on 16 August.
The path to this point has required gritty victories, including 1-0 wins over Haiti and Denmark in the group stages, as well as a penalty shootout triumph over Nigeria in the round of 16.
Despite the absence of their suspended top-scorer, England’s collective effort proved sufficient to secure this significant win.
