Hemp scores as England eliminate Australia to reach World Cup final | OneFootball

Lauren Hemp scored her third goal at the 2023 World Cup as England booked their place in the final with an exciting 3-1 victory over Australia.

Goals from Ella Toone, Alessia Russo and our midfielder cancelled out Sam Kerr's at Stadium Australia to secure the victory for the Sarina Wiegman’s side with Alex Greenwood, Chloe Kelly and Mary Fowler also featuring.

Although there was ecstasy for City’s Lionesses contingent, who reached their first showpiece at the prestigious tournament, there was heartbreak for our Matildas representatives who exited the competition after a spellbinding run in the competition.

There was an early blow for Australia and sky blue defender Alanna Kennedy who was ruled out of the clash after suffering from illness having played every minute for her nation before the last-four meeting.

Undeterred by the disappointment, the host nation had the first sight on goal when Chelsea’s prolific striker, Sam Kerr, broke free of their opposition’s defence, drove into the box but saw her low effort expertly blocked by Mary Earps.

In what was proving to be an exciting start to the game, England immediately went on the offensive and carved out a chance of their own when Greenwood scooped the ball into the path of Georgia Stanway, but Mackenzie Arnold’s boot thwarted the ex-City player’s volley from close range.

Both sides, who had scored a combined 20 goals at the World Cup, were trading blows but neither could find the game’s opening goal as Russo's effort found the side netting and Hayley Raso’s volley was deflected wide.

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With Lauren James suspended after receiving a red card in the Lionesses’ Round of 16 victory over Nigeria, Wiegman deployed Ella Toone in the central attacking midfield role.

And the skilful forward repaid her manager’s faith by spectacularly scoring the game’s first goal on 40 minutes when she received the ball just inside the box and drilled a first-time effort into the top corner.

As she had done throughout the World Cup, Fowler wonderfully led the line for her nation and she was the architect of an opening just after the interval when she whipped an inviting cross into the box before Caitlin Foord's header flew into the grateful gloves of Earps.

Her clubmate, Hemp, entered the tie in fabulous form after scoring in the European champions' 2-1 quarter-final win over Colombia.

And City's winger forced Mackenzie Arnold to tip the ball over the bar with a stinging shot from 25-yards, before Greenwood's corner was met by Millie Bright whose header flew just wide of the post.

Australia were looking for some much needed inspiration and they found it just past the hour mark thanks to their influential forward.

After weaving into England's half, Kerr scored one of the goals of the tournament to pull her nation level when she unleashed an unstoppable effort into the roof of the net from just shy of 30-yards.

The scoreline was only level for eight minutes, though, as the Lionesses restored their lead when Hemp impressively danced through a crowd of bodies into the box and fired low into the bottom corner.

Tony Gustavsson's continued to press for the equaliser and almost found it on 82 minutes when Vine fizzed a shot across goal which Earps flung low to her right to tip the effort away.

England then sealed passage into the final and sparked jubilant scenes in the closing stages as Hemp dropped her shoulder on halfway and slid Russo into the box who fired into the bottom left corner.

The Lionesses will now face Spain with a chance to etch their names in the history books on Sunday 20 August at 11:00 (UK).

Stay close to mancity.com and the official Man City app for a comprehensive report from the showpiece.