How it happened: England beat Australia 3-1 to go through to their first ever Women's World Cup final

16 August 2023, 10:27 | Updated: 16 August 2023, 13:09

England are into their first Women's World Cup Final after beating Australia 3-1, following brilliance from Lauren Hemp as Matildas superstar Sam Kerr botched her chances.

Ella Toone fired a superb goal into the top right corner after a well worked move on the left of the Australia box ten minutes from the end of the first half.

But that strike looked tame compared to Kerr's wonder strike, as the icon crowned her first start at this world cup by running at the England defence and firing in a magnificent goal outside the area just after the hour mark.

Match report: England's Lionesses beat Australia 3-1 to reach first World Cup final since 1966

England initially wobbled in the aftermath as if shellshocked, as home fans in the sold out 75,000 capacity Stadium Australia roared the hosts on.

But the Lionesses hit back with Hemp, who showed great desire to wrestle the ball from the Australian defence before firing under Mackenzie Arnold.

Kerr was unable to follow up on her incredible goal and missed two much simpler chances, sending a header from close range over the bar before blasting another over.

At the start of the semi-final, Mary Earps denied Kerr, who looked one on one but the flag went up against her.

The previously injured Kerr, 29, was making her first start in the tournament after playing 10 minutes against Denmark then came on in the 55th minute for their quarter final win over France.

She scored one of the penalties that took her team through to face England.

A brilliant ball from Alex Greenwood played in Georgia Stanway who fired on the volley at the near post but was denied by Arnold.

England looked sharp in the opening minutes, putting Australia on the back foot, but the Matildas grew into the game.

Hayley Raso had an attempt at the far post after a corner for the hosts on the cusp of half time but it was deflected wide.

Shortly after, England found the opening after Toone fired in as the Lionesses worked the ball in from a throw on the left hand side.

Hemp who was involved in all three of her side's goals, hooked it to Russo, who rolled it to Toone as Hemp dummied.

Toone struck it cleanly into the top right of the goal to send England into raptures.

They survived a late Australia corner and attack to walk in at half time 1-0 up.

The Lionesses started the opening minutes of the second half giving the ball away, though Australia struggled to create clear cut chances, repeatedly trying to put the ball into the box but failing to get much purchase from the Lionesses' defence.

As England got forward before the hour mark Hemp shot from outside the area, forcing Arnold to turn it round the corner.

Greenwood's subsequent corner was met by captain Millie Bright but she headed wide.

After giving the ball up one too many times, they were finally forced to pay minutes after that Bright chance.

Australia, who looked unable to extract much from the game, got the ball and Kerr ran at the England defence in defiance of her calf injury that has limited her appearances at this tournament.

She scored a magnificent goal from outside the area, and England looked shellshocked after as Australia tried to find a rapid second.

But they held their nerves, and came close twice minutes after, with Russo heading just wide from a Hemp cross after Bronze nearly accidentally chipped Arnold with a cross from the right of the Australia penalty area.

Such a strong response paid off when Hemp chased down a long ball from Millie Bright and nipped in to to take the ball and shoot under when Australia's back line failed to deal with it.

With England now hoping to see the game out, Kerr was unable to follow up her earlier wonder goal by missing two excellent chances.

First, Mary Fowler sent in a superb ball but Kerr, right in front of the England goal but facing away, could only head over the bar at six yards.

She then managed to play in another Australia attack but Earps saved well before the ball fell to Kerr from a corner - though she could only blast that over the bar too.

Her profligacy was punished when England cleared, and the excellent Hemp latched onto the ball, got past her marker then played in Russo to finish and send England into the final.

This is England's first Women's World Cup final and they will now face Spain, who are also hoping to take home their first title at this tournament.

Sarina Wiegman's side came into the tournament as European champions after an incredible summer last year.

England are thought to have a big chance to win the tournament down under.

Read more: England into the semi-finals of Women's World Cup after 2-1 victory over Colombia

England had not been at their best earlier in the tournament, having slightly laboured through a group stage despite winning all three games and destroying China.

The Lionesses nearly came unstuck against Nigeria in the first knockout stage, especially when young star Lauren James was sent off just before the end of normal time. They hung on in extra time and won on penalties.

But they were much better against a good Colombia side who enjoyed a fine tournament, coming from behind to win 2-1 against the hosts.

It is a cliche in football that it's not how you start tournaments, but how you finish, and there are numerous examples of teams in the men's game who start tournaments relatively poorly before claiming the cup.

England, who are without the suspended James, look to be peaking at the perfect time.

They will play Spain, who beat Sweden 2-1 yesterday, in Sydney on August 20.

Australia will travel to Brisbane to play Sweden for the third place play off on August 19.

Teams:

Australia: Arnold, Polkinghorne, Catley, Foord, Fowler, Hunt, Raso, Gorry, Kerr, Carpenter, Cooney-Cross

Subs: Williams, Micah, Nevin, Luik, Vine, Wheeler, Chidiac, Van Egmond, Yallop, Simon, Grant, Kennedy

England: Earps, Bronze, Bright, Greenwood, Carter, Daly, Walsh, Stanway, Toone, Russo, Hemp.

Hampton, Roebuck, Charles, Nobbs, Wubben-Moy, Morgan, Coombs, Kelly, England, Zelem, Robinson, James.