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England made history by advancing to its inaugural Women's World Cup championship match, triumphing with a 3-1 victory over co-hosts Australia on Wednesday, thus concluding the Matildas' captivating journey in the tournament.
Australian superstar Sam Kerr commenced her first match of the tournament and managed to score a goal for the Matildas, yet this effort fell short against the formidable European champions, England.
Ella Toone's goal in the 36th minute propelled England to a 1-0 lead, with the Lionesses asserting dominance in possession during the first half.
Kerr's equalizer in the 63rd minute provided a glimmer of hope for the massive crowd of over 75,000. However, Lauren Hemp swiftly responded, restoring England's lead in the 71st minute. Hemp then orchestrated a precise through ball for Alessia Russo, securing the victory just four minutes prior to the end of regulation time.
When England and Spain clash at Stadium Australia on Sunday, both teams will be making their debut appearances in the Women's World Cup final. This momentous event marks the first all-European final since 2003.
England Manager Sarina Wiegman Achieves Historic Feat with Second Women's World Cup Final Sarina Wiegman, the manager of England's national team, has secured a unique distinction by becoming the first coach to guide two different countries to the Women's World Cup final. She previously led the Netherlands to the final, where they faced a defeat against the United States in 2019. In a post-match television interview, Wiegman expressed her appreciation for the significance of reaching finals, stating, "Making it to finals is truly special. I never take anything for granted, but I can't help but wonder, 'Am I in the midst of a fairytale or something?'" Australia will contend against Sweden for the third-place position on Saturday in Brisbane. Reflecting on her 100th appearance for the national team, Australia midfielder Katrina Gorry commented on the team's performance, saying, "We aimed to dominate the game, but unfortunately, we fell short of that. We also intended to generate more scoring opportunities, which we didn't achieve. However, with a swift turnaround ahead, we are focused on securing the bronze medal." This marked England's third consecutive appearance in the Women's World Cup semifinals, while Australia reached the final four for the first time in their history.
The disparity was evident, particularly during the initial half and the final 20 minutes.
England displayed a stronger resolve, exhibited greater precision when it mattered, and executed a strategy that kept Australia from holding onto possession for extended periods.
Australia's energy appeared to have peaked during their 7-6 victory in a penalty shootout against France last weekend, marking their first win in four quarterfinal appearances at the Women's World Cup.
Kerr's inclusion in the starting lineup for her home tournament had to be delayed by five matches due to a calf muscle injury sustained just prior to the tournament's commencement.
Following a subdued performance in the first half against England's resolute defense, the renowned striker made a significant impact by netting the equalizer shortly after the hour mark. Kerr received the ball at the halfway line, embarked on a solo advance up-field, evaded a defender with nimble footwork, and unleashed a right-footed shot from outside the box that deflected slightly off defender Millie Bright before nestling into the top left corner.
Kerr began to make advancements, yet England swiftly retaliated. Hemp seized upon a lengthy pass into the penalty area and netted with a left-footed shot, capitalizing on a moment where Australia's defender Ellie Carpenter misjudged the ball's trajectory.
Kerr had another opportunity to level the score with a header that struck the crossbar in the 82nd minute. England capitalized on this missed chance by sealing their victory, as Russo successfully concluded the sequence for the English side.
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