England meets Spain in the final

England meets Spain in the final

Sarina Wiegman's men prevailed (1-3) without too much brilliance against an Australia led by Kerr who says goodbye to 'his' tournament with merits

   MADRID, 16 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) -

England will be Spain's rival this Sunday in the women's World Cup final, after they beat co-hosts Australia this Wednesday (1-3) in a lackluster duel that went from less to more in terms of rhythm, and in the one in which goals from Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo left Sam Kerr's goal for nothing for some 'Matildas' who say goodbye to 'their' tournament with merits.

The English, still a bit far from their best version, showed once again that they are a competitive and highly versatile team. With a slower pace at the beginning, a kick from Toone to the top corner opened the way, which went awry for the 'Lionesses' with another great goal with a long shot from Kerr, the best of the oceanic. But Wiegman's men, European champions, did not leave the match and certified their second consecutive final of a major tournament with another two goals in isolated plays by Hemp and Russo in the final stretch.

Given the relevance of the match and the prize at stake, both teams began with forecasts, in a kind of truce to avoid irreversible damage. England were quick on the ball, while Australia were comfortable crouching a bit, blasting Kerr and Fowler with long drives.

And that's how the first approach came, with the captain of the 'Matildas' as the protagonist in her first match as a starter. The forward shot a good clearance that surprised the English central defenders and received a long ball, making the most of her great speed. In heads-up, she grounded to Earps, though the play was ruled for offside.

England's response came early, when Stanway came on from the second row thanks to a perfect lobbed pass from Greenwood, but his somewhat focused shot was saved by an accurate Arnold. The rhythm of the match, except for a couple of English arrivals, was quite low, although intense in each duel.

And the match broke out with a real kick from Toone, when the break was close. The midfielder found a loose ball inside the area, after a run by the English on the left. The '10' of the 'Lionesses' didn't think twice and from the start hit a precise and powerful shot, straight into the top corner, impossible for Arnold.

England found a small, but more than enough, loophole in the well-armed Australian wall, until then without defense failures. It was the first goal Australia had received after chaining three clean sheets in the tournament.

Already in the second half, the script was different. The Australians took a step forward, led by their captain in attack, and forced England to propose a more withdrawn version. The oceanic ones bombarded the English area with crosses, but the prize came, after the hour of play, in a counter after a loss by Wiegman's men in the rival field.

The ball fell to Kerr, who is unstoppable with ground in front of him, and just as defenses imagined he would concede the ball to the left, he fired a powerful shot from distance that slithered into the top corner. The faith of the team supported by an entire stadium and the quality of its best player once again hooked Australia to a game from which they never left. And he gave her a different mood, more jovial and daring, which opened up the duel more.

The English were not intimidated, who first with a poisoned cross from Bronze and then with a good header from Russo, made it clear that they did not want extra time. And when they were not at their best, Hemp took advantage, after a frontal delivery without much danger, Carpenter's indecision inside the area to connect with the ball and send it to the back of the net to silence the stadium.

Time and the score were pressing Australia, forced to be more offensive, but that left more gaps behind, when doubts were also lurking at the Hunt and Polkinghorne ocean power stations. After minute 80, they had several desperate approaches that were unsuccessful.

England defended the result tooth and nail, and was able to have a peaceful ending thanks to the 1-3 draw that sealed the semi-final. Thus, the English meet in the grand final on Sunday with Spain, which they already won in the quarterfinals of the Eurocup.

--RESULT: AUSTRALIA, 1 - ENGLAND, 3 (0-1, at halftime).

   AUSTRALIA: Arnold; Catley, Polkinghorne (Van Egmond, min.81), Hunt, Carpenter; Foord, Raso (Vine, min.72), Gorry (Chidiac, min.88), Cooney-Cross; Kerr y Fowler.

   INGLATERRA: Earps; Greenwood, Bright, Carter; Bronze, Walsh, Stanway, Daly, Toone (Charles, min.90); Hemp y Russo (Kelly, min.87).

0-1, minuto 36. Tone.

1-1, minute 62. Kerr.

1-2, minute 71. Hemp.

1-3, minute 86. Russian.

--REFEREE: Tori Penso (USA). She admonished Greenwood (min.10) and Kelly (min.95), in England.

--STADIUM: Sydney Olympic.