England will face Spain in their first ever Women's World Cup final on Sunday after breaking the hearts of co-hosts Australia in Sydney on Wednesday with a 3-1 win. More than 75,000 fans packed into Stadium Australia, with the majority holding the hopes of seeing the Matildas achieve that feat, but goals from Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo meant it was Sarina Wiegman's side that booked a return to the venue this weekend.
England started well and could've been ahead within minutes, but Georgia Stanway's half-volley was blocked by Mackenzie Arnold in the Australia goal. They did go in at the break with the lead, though, thanks to a bullet of an effort from Toone that flew into the top corner after good work down the right from Russo.
The Matildas were not going to go away, however, and after a couple of decent chances in the second half for England - Hemp seeing an effort well-saved by Arnold before Millie Bright headed wide from a corner - it was captain Sam Kerr that sent Stadium Australia into raptures. Driving at Bright, and realising that her Chelsea team-mate wasn't going to close her down, Kerr unleashed a strike from 25 yards out that flew past Mary Earps and produced an incredible roar inside the ground.
But England did well to wrestle back momentum and shortly after Russo saw a header drop just wide of the far post, Hemp fired the Lionesses back into the lead, pouncing on some hesitant defending from Ellie Carpenter.
Australia had two huge chances to get back on level terms and both fell to Kerr, the exact player they'd want them to. But the Matildas' star couldn't flick Mary Fowler's cross beyond Earps, instead nodding it well over, and then missed an even bigger opportunity when she failed to hit the target from six yards out. Only moments later, she watched Hemp race down the other end and slip in Russo to finish the game off and send England into the final instead.
GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Stadium Australia...