The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup quarterfinal round came to a close on Saturday with England emerging victorious against Colombia at Sydney’s Stadium Australia. The highlight of the match was Colombia’s impressive display, with 18-year-old Linda Caicedo creating numerous quality chances. However, despite being plagued by injuries and the suspension of star forward Lauren James, England secured their place in the semifinals through goals from Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo. The game ended with a scoreline of 2-1 in favor of England.
In the second half, Colombia continued to press for an equalizer, but England’s defense held strong, with goalkeeper Mary Earps making an acrobatic save to deny Colombia’s Lorena Bedoya Durango. In the 63rd minute, Russo broke through Colombia’s defense to score a brilliant goal, giving England a 2-1 lead. England had earlier equalized just before halftime, with Hemp capitalizing on an error from Colombia’s goalkeeper Catalina Pérez. This was the first quarterfinal match in the tournament to feature goals from both teams in the first half.
The first half also saw Colombia’s Leicy Santos score a remarkable chip that was placed perfectly, out of Earps’ reach, giving Colombia an early lead. Despite the attacking prowess of Colombia’s Linda Caicedo, England’s defense managed to prevent her from taking a shot. Both teams had opportunities to score in the early stages of the match, but Colombia’s defense remained solid. Unfortunately, Colombia suffered a setback when defender Carolina Arias had to be substituted due to injury.
Before the game, the “World Cup NOW” crew provided a preview of the match on social media. Fans can find the full Women’s World Cup schedule and watch each match live, as well as stay updated with the latest scores. Follow your favorite teams and players to personalize your FOX Sports experience for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.