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Date Time League Season
16 August 2023 11:00 am Women's World Cup 2022/23

Match Report

Hemp And Russo Seal Final Place For Lionesses

England booked their place in the final of the Women's World Cup as they overcame hosts Australia 3-1.

Ella Toone put the Lionesses in front in the first half before Sam Kerr’s wonder goal levelled the scores but second half goals from Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo puts Sarina Wiegman’s side in Sunday’s final against Spain.

England dominated the early stages as Australia seemed happy to sit off and soak up the pressure.

Kerr appeared to have gone close early on but was later ruled offside before her Chelsea teammate Georgia Stanway spurned a golden opportunity down the other end.

Alex Greenwood picked out Stanway with a precise looped ball but the midfielder’s shot was straight at Australia goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold. 

Greenwood put another cross in that this time picked out Rachel Daly but the England striker headed over.

Mary Earps’ long ball found Toone who flicked it onto Alessia Russo but the forward’s shot from a very tight angle could only find the side netting.

England made the breakthrough on 36 minutes as good patient build up play allowed Lauren Hemp to pick out Toone, who produced an absolute pile driver to put the Lionesses in front. 

The Lionesses had never lost a World Cup game that they’d gone ahead in but made a sloppy start to the second half with the midfielders losing possession and eventually it came back to haunt them.

Kerr picked up the ball on halfway after an England corner and after a mazy run through the defence, she produced a wonderful lofted strike into the top corner.

Hemp put a clever ball into the box that picked out Alessia Russo and the Arsenal striker headed just wide. 

Manchester City attacker Hemp put England back in front.

Millie Bright went long and Australia couldn’t deal with it allowing Hemp to get in between the two Aussie centre backs and prod the ball into the bottom corner. 

The Matildas went close through Kerr’s header and substitute Courtney Vine’s shot that was well saved by Earps. 

However, at the other end Hemp made a great run through the Matildas defence and played a beautiful ball to Russo whose shot landed right in the bottom corner.

Australia
18Mackenzie Arnold Goalkeeper
21Ellie Carpenter Defender
15Clare Hunt Defender
4Clare Polkinghorne 10 Defender
7Steph Catley Defender
16Hayley Raso 5 Forward
19Katrina Gorry 8 Midfielder
23Kyra Cooney-Cross Midfielder
9Caitlin Foord Forward
20Sam Kerr Forward 63'
11Mary Fowler Forward
1Lydia Williams Goalkeeper
2Courtney Nevin Defender
3Aivi Luik Defender
5Cortnee Vine 16 Forward
6Clare Wheeler Midfielder
8Alex Chidiac 19 Midfielder
10Emily van Egmond 4 Midfielder
12Teagan Micah Goalkeeper
13Tameka Yallop Midfielder
14Alanna Kennedy Defender
17Kyah Simon Forward
22Charlotte Grant Defender

England
1Mary Earps Goalkeeper
16Jess Carter Defender
6Millie Bright Midfielder
5Alex Greenwood Defender 10'
2Lucy Bronze Defender
8Georgia Stanway Midfielder
4Keira Walsh Midfielder
9Rachel Daly Forward
10Ella Toone 3 Forward 36'
23Alessia Russo 18 Midfielder 88'
11Lauren Hemp Forward 71'
3Niamh Charles 10 Defender
7Lauren James Forward
12Jordan Nobbs Midfielder
13Hannah Hampton Goalkeeper
14Lotte Wubben-Moy Defender
15Esme Morgan Defender
17Laura Coombs Midfielder
18Chloe Kelly 23 Forward 90+5'
19Bethany England Midfielder
20Katie Zelem Midfielder
21Ellie Roebuck Goalkeeper
22Katie Robinson Forward

Timeline

 10' 5. Alex Greenwood
 36' 7. Ella Toone
20. Sam Kerr 63' 
 71' 11. Lauren Hemp
Hayley Raso
Cortnee Vine		72' 
Clare Polkinghorne
Emily van Egmond		81' 
 87'Alessia Russo
Chloe Kelly
Katrina Gorry
Alex Chidiac		88' 
 88' 23. Alessia Russo
 90'Ella Toone
Niamh Charles
 90+5' 9. Chloe Kelly
  • 96'

    Full time: Australia 1-3 England

  • 95'

    Yellow card to Chloe Kelly.

  • 90'

    Six additional minutes to be played.

  • 90'

    England sub: Niamh Charles replaces Ella Toone.

  • 88'

    Australia sub: Alex Chidiac replaces Katrina Gorry.

  • 87'

    England sub: Chloe Kelly replaces Alessia Russo.

  • 88'

    Hemp makes a great run through the Matildas defence and plays a beautiful ball to Russo whose shot is right in the bottom corner. England heading to the World Cup final.

  • 86'

    The corner falls to Kerr whose effort goes over the bar from two yards out.

  • 85'

    Another corner for Australia. They're looking dangerous now.

  • 83'

    Courtney Vine has a shot that is well saved by Mary Earps.

  • 83'

    Fowler puts a great ball in and Sam Kerr's backwards header goes over.

  • 81'

    Australia sub: Emily van Egmond replaces Clare Polkinghorne.

  • 78'

    Mille Bright's header misses to the right.

  • 76'

    Georgia Stanway right footed shot from outside the box is too high.

  • 72'

    Australia sub: Cortnee Vine replaces Hayley Raso.

  • 71'

    Millie Bright goes long, Australia don't deal with it and Lauren Hemp gets in between two defenders before prodding the ball into the bottom corner.

  • 69'

    Lauren Hemp puts a clever ball into the box that picks out Alessia Russo and the Arsenal striker heads just wide.

  • 67'

    A very difficult corner for England keeper Mary Earps to deal with. It's heading in but the stopper manages to claw the ball away.

  • 63'

    Sam Kerr scores the equaliser with a wonderful lofted strike into the top corner after a mazy run through the England defence.

  • 58'

    Greenwood's delivery picks out Bright who heads just wide.

  • 57'

    Lauren Hemp fires a shot at goal that Arnold turns round for a corner.

  • 54'

    Cagey start to the second half.

  • 49'

    Keira Walsh is the latest England midfielder to lose the ball. The Lionesses need to calm things down a little.

  • 46'

    We're back underway.

  • 45'

    Half time: Australia 0-1 England

  • 43'

    England have never lost a World Cup game that they've gone ahead in.

  • 38'

    Katrina Gorry's left footed shot from outside the box is comfortably saved by Earps.

  • 36'

    Good patient build up by England and Lauren Hemp picks out Ella Toone, who produces an absolute piledriver to put England ahead!

  • 30'

    The ball falls to Hayley Raso in the box but her shot deflects behind for another corner.

  • 29'

    A rare Australia attack as Hayley Raso comes forward down the right. Rachel Daly slides in in the penalty area but makes contact with the ball. Corner Australia.

  • 28'

    England are frustrated after Rachel Daly is caught by Hayley Raso on the sideline. Nothing given.

  • 23'

    Ella Toone is very late on Katrina Gorry and is fortunate to escape a booking.

  • 22'

    England have had over 70 per cent of possession across the opening 15 minutes.

  • 18'

    Mary Earps goes long and Ella Toone flicks it on to Alessia Russo. The forward shoots from a very tight angle and can only find the side-netting.

  • 13'

    Alex Greenwood's cross picks out Rachel Daly, whose header from the centre of the box goes over the bar.

  • 13'

    Corner for England as Steph Catley puts the ball out of play.

  • 10'

    Alex Greenwood is shown a yellow card.

  • 10'

    The resulting corner results in pinball in the box and out for an England throw.

  • 9'

    Georgia Stanway has the games best chance as Alex Greenwood picks her out with a great ball but Mackenzie Arnold saves well.

  • 7'

    Sam Kerr is put through by a great lofted ball but Mary Earps makes a solid save despite the Chelsea attacker ruled offside.

  • 5'

    England dominating possession in the early stages, Australia happy to sit off.

  • 1'

    Keira Walsh is late on Sam Kerr. Not a card but definitely a foul.

  • 1'

    We're underway.

  • Hello and welcome to live coverage of today's semi-final.

Ground

Stadium Australia
Accor Stadium, Olympic Plaza, Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney, City of Parramatta Council, New South Wales, 2127, Australia

I am a Sports Journalism & PR graduate from Staffordshire University. During my time at Final Whistle, I have covered the LOI National League, international games and the Women’s National League. Outside of Final Whistle, I am a researcher for World Rugby and a writer for The Rugby Paper.