Australia 1-3 England: Lionesses book their place in Women's World Cup final after Lauren Hemp, Ella Toone and Alessia Russo strike to sink the hosts

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All the talk had been about how this was Australia’s tournament, their chance to reach a first ever World Cup final, their chance for history. Last night England decided they would be the ones to write the script, they would be the ones to spoil the party and they would be the ones facing Spain in Sunday’s final.

The Lionesses delivered the performances of their lives to beat the Aussies 3-1 in their own backyard. When Sam Kerr cancelled out Ella Toone’s first half goal with a sensational long-range strike, the momentum looked to be with the Matildas. England could have wilted as 75,000 Australians roared their team on. 

But this side does not back down. Every challenge, every obstacle, every problem they have faced at this World Cup, they have overcome. Lauren Hemp responded eight minutes later to restore the Lionesses’ lead before Alessia Russo finished the job four minutes from time.

England’s journey to the World Cup final has been two years in the making, since Wiegman took over in 2021. But a key moment came four months ago when the manager’s 30-game unbeaten run came to an end at the hands of Tony Gustavsson, the Australia manager. 

Wiegman did not have a plan B as her side fell to a 2-0 defeat. It was the worst performance of her reign and she knew she needed to come up with a solution should England face Australia in this tournament. Wiegman, as she has done time after time, delivered again. She is the first manager to take two different nations to a World Cup final – the Netherlands in 2019 and now England.

England's Lionesses booked their place in the World Cup final after beating Australia 3-1

Lauren Hemp wheeled away in celebration after restoring England's lead in the match

The Lionesses will take on Spain in the finale after their thrilling win over the hosts

Australia battled hard but, ultimately came up short when facing up against the Lionesses

‘I never take anything for granted but am I here in a little fairytale or something?’ an ecstatic Wiegman said last night.

‘I can hardly describe how proud I am of the team, this team has been adapted all the time. Before the tournament, then during the tournament and now in this game again.

‘How we find a way to win again is so incredible so I’m really proud of them. We are still celebrating now but tomorrow morning we’ll get ready for Sunday.

‘It’s so hard to reach a final even though you might be the favourite. We have seen that there are many favourite teams. Every step has been really, really hard.’

All the build-up to this semi-final had focused on whether Kerr would make her first start of the tournament. With a World Cup final at stake, Gustavasson decided he had no option but to play his star forward.

England decided she would not get an easy ride and within 20 minutes, Kerr had been wiped out three times. Keira Walsh was the first to commit a foul, clattering into the forward after just two minutes. Alex Greenwood was next, wiping Kerr off her feet inside Australia’s half before Jess Carter caught her with a boot to the face.

But Kerr nearly opened the scoring in the eight minute when a long ball over the top sailed over the heads of both Bright and Carter, leaving the forward one on one with Mary Earps. 

The goalkeeper stood tall to block the striker’s effort Minutes later England should have taken the lead at the other end Greenwood’s lofted pass over Australia’s defence for Georgia Stanway. The midfielder had time, but sent a volley to the near-post that was easy for Mackenzie Arnold to block with her foot.

Arsenal forward Alessia Russo wrapped up the win for England with a neat finish late on

Chelsea's Sam Kerr scored a screamer to pull Australia level before England ran away with it

Stanway should have scored, shortly after Toone did. It was a simple throw-in which ended in a thunderous strike. The ball went down the line to Hemp, whose flick was brought down by Russo. 

The forward held the ball up before cutting it back to where Hemp and Toone were waiting. Hemp dummied, Toone struck, the ball flew - fast and furiously into the top corner of the Aussie net. For the first time all night there was silence in the stadium. All that could be heard were the roars from the England bench.

The Lionesses were on top, and at the start of the second half they nearly doubled their lead. Hemp forced Arnold into a fine save at the near post before Bright headed the resulting corner wide. It was a chance she should probably have scored.

Then came the moment that could have turned the game, the moment Australia had been waiting all tournament for. Russo was caught in possession and the ball was played to Kerr. She was allowed to run and run and then strike. The ball took a deflection off Bright’s knee and flew over Earps’ head and into the net. 

Sarina Wiegman has now led her side to consecutive EUROs and World Cup finals

The Aussie crowd roared back into life, but eight minutes later they were silenced again. It was route one from England as Bright hoofed a ball forward. Ellie Carpenter misjudged it and Hemp pounced, shrugging off the defender before firing into the bottom right corner.

Earps then made a crucial save to deny Cortnee Vine before Kerr then sent a header and a volley over the bar as Australia pushed forward. It was not Kerr’s night, it was not Australia’s night. Those missed chances proved costly as England went down the other end to make it 3-1.

Hemp drove forward at pace, then played an exquisite no-look pass to play in Russo who fired a first-time shot into the bottom left corner. Game over, history made.

Before every match at this World Cup teams have walked out to a dramatic version of Sweet Dreams by Eurythmics. At the end of the night, the winning team’s chosen song is played over the speakers. England’s is Sweet Caroline. Knocking the Aussies out of their own tournament, it does not get much sweeter than that.