England scored a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Colombia in front of 75,784 fans at Stadium Australia on 12 August to book themselves a third successive FIFA Women's World Cup semi-final appearance. Sarina Wiegman's charges threatened first, Lucy Bronze's sixth minute cross picking out Alessia Russo, whose header invited Lauren Hemp to let fly. Her shot was blocked by Carolina Arias, who then copped a double whammy as goalkeeper Catalina Perez collided with her, and as she landed, Russo's bid to ram home the loose ball cannoned off the prone defender's head to safety. That little combination meant it was the end of the shift for the luckless defender after just ten minutes. While "Las Cafeteras" were sorting out the change, another England raid saw Hemp pick out Russo with a cross, the striker heading the ball straight at Perez. Colombia first threatened in the fourteenth minute - little surprise that it was teenage sensation, Linda Caicedo, leading the charge. She did Jessica Carter an absolute treat on England's right, only to undo her good work by blazing over when Mayra Ramirez was far better placed to capitalise upon the opening. The resolute defensive efforts of both teams - not to mention some rugged unchecked challenges from Arias' replacement, Ana Guzman - meant just two opportunities materialised over the course of the next twenty-five minutes, both to "The Lionesses". Hemp's 27th minute corner was cleared to Georgia Stanway, who sliced her shot straight to Rachel Daly. She directed her instinctive eight yard header straight at Perez, who looked on a minute later as the same player sent a twenty-five yarder flying narrowly over the bar. Seven minutes before half-time, Guzman, Ramirez and Leicy Santos combined neatly on the right before the first-mentioned fired in a cross which picked out Caicedo. She wriggled through a couple of challenges, only to see her shot blocked. When Colombia next fired a shot in anger, they were celebrating wildly in the aftermath of probably the most exquisite goal of the tournament. Santos received the ball on the right, and was instantly confronted by a defender, of whose presence she made light. So, too, that of goalkeeper Mary Earps, who was completely undone by an absolutely inch-perfect twenty yard chip which arced over her and under the bar en route to the far corner of the net - perfection! That goal came in the 44th minute - Colombia would be heading to the dressing rooms a goal to the good, you would think. Not so! For Arias' issues earlier in the half meant a lengthy period of stoppage time was in order, and England equalised in the last minute of same after a spell of concerted pressure. Keira Walsh picked out Bronze with an angled ball which invited the fullback to head it inside. Colombia failed to clear the sphere, prompting

Russo to pull the trigger again. Perez saved her effort, then inexplicably spilled it, prompting a scramble which was concluded by Hemp sliding in to direct the ball over the line - 1-1, with virtually the last kick of the half. Colombia were on the charge straight from the kick-off, Ramirez - a constant threat to England's rearguard - rattling the stanchion after being played in by Santos. "The Lionesses" responded well, however, a Russo cross from the by-line being sliced past her own goal by Jorelyn Carabali, while a 52nd minute corner from Alex Greenwood saw Daly direct another header at Perez. In the 63rd minute, England took the lead. Stanway played a delicious through ball into the stride of Russo, racing through the inside right channel into the penalty area, from where she unleashed an angled drive across Perez into the far corner of the net - 2-1. And with it, a premature end to the match for Colombia's goalkeeper, who had already received treatment for an eye problem and decided that she was no longer able to continue. Natalia Giraldo took over twixt the sticks, but had little of note to deal with in the final half-hour of play, as the South Americans pounded away in search of an equaliser to force extra time. Ramirez led a 71st minute raid which culminated in Lorena Bedoya Durango putting everything into a rising twenty yard piledriver which Earps spectacularly turned over the bar. Seven minutes later, Santos caught Walsh in possession and set up Ramirez, who was in the act of letting fly when Greenwood produced a goal-saving challenge to deny her. Still Colombia pressed, Ivonne Chacon working a one-two with Caicedo on the right before charging into the penalty area, where she was initially thwarted by Milly Bright then by Greenwood in the 82nd minute. Time was running out for Nelson Abadia's team, but eight minutes of stoppage time offered them hope aplenty of getting a late equaliser to take the game to extra time. Try as they might, however, parity was not forthcoming on this occasion, despite the best efforts of Manuela Vanegas, Santos, Ramirez and Caicedo in the dying minutes. England held on, 2-1 winners over their gallant opponents, and now face the co-hosts, Australia, in Wednesday's semi-final at this venue, where another sell-out crowd is guaranteed as these FIFA Women's World Cup Finals continue to captivate and enthral like never before. England:     Earps; Carter, Bright, Greenwood; Bronze, Stanway, Toone, Walsh, Daly; Russo (Kelly, 84), Hemp (England, 90) Colombia:     Perez (Giraldo, 67); C. Arias (Guzman, 10), Carabali, D. Arias, Vanegas; Santos, Ospina Garcia (Chacon, 78), Bedoya Durango; Ramirez, Usme, Caicedo Referee:     Eketerina Koroleva (USA)