Women's Soccer

SYDNEY — England reached their first Women's World Cup final after beating Australia 3-1 on Wednesday despite a wonder goal from Matildas striker Sam Kerr as the co-hosts' fairytale run came to an end.

After falling at the semi-final stage in the previous two World Cups, England will face Spain on Sunday looking to add a world title to last year's European Championship triumph.

Attacking midfielder Ella Toone gave England a first-half lead to silence the crowd of 75,784.

THE LIONESSES LEAD

AUCKLAND — Olga Carmona struck late to lift Spain to a thrilling 2-1 semifinal win over Sweden on Tuesday and send the Iberians to their first Women's World Cup final.

Teenager Salma Paralluelo, Spain's quarter-final hero against the Netherlands, produced magic off the bench again, putting her side in front in the 81st minute and breathing life into what had been a slow-burning, cagey affair.

SHE'S A HERO ONCE AGAIN, IT'S SALMA PARALLUELO pic.twitter.com/lX1Vrht0ZZ

SYDNEY — Alessia Russo's second-half goal lifted England to a thrilling 2-1 quarterfinal victory over Colombia on Saturday and into the Women's World Cup semifinals for the third consecutive time.

Lauren Hemp also scored for the European champions, who now face hosts Australia on Wednesday in Sydney for a place in their first World Cup final.

"It's exciting, what more do you want in front of a home crowd?" Russo, who was named player of the match, told ITV. "We got a bit of that tonight against Colombia. You want to play against the best teams.

Editors Note: Updated in August 2023 to include most recent salary and annual income estimates for Sam Kerr.

The NWSL tried to change its rules to help keep top foreign talent in the league, but it clearly wasn’t enough. One of the best players in the world left the NWSL in 2020 for England; one look at Sam Kerr's salary and her contract with Chelsea shows why.

AUCKLAND — Pictures of Sweden fullback Jonna Andersson taking time out from celebrating her side's 2-1 World Cup quarterfinal victory over Japan to comfort Maika Hamano have spread quickly online as the pair's club connections became a talking point.

Hamano plays for Andersson's former club Chelsea, but the 19-year-old Japanese forward has spent the current season at the Swede's current club Hammarby in Stockholm.

Netherlands forward Lineth Beerensteyn didn’t hold back when she was asked about the United States women’s national team being eliminated from the 2023 Women’s World Cup in the Round of 16.

The U.S. women’s defeat to Sweden on Sunday was the earliest exit from a World Cup in the team’s history.

Beerensteyn, who was out with an ankle injury when the USWNT and Dutch played each other in the group stage, was elated with the Americans being eliminated.

England's Lauren James issued an apology on Tuesday after she was sent off for a stamp on Nigeria player Michelle Alozie during their Women's World Cup last-16 game.

James, England's top scorer at the tournament with three goals, received a red card for a bad-tempered stamp on Alozie's back in the 87th minute of Monday's game.

Lauren James steps on Michelle Alozie's back

Lauren James is seeing red and will be sent off

MELBOURNE — A second-half goal by Catalina Usme fired Colombia to a 1-0 win over Jamaica on Tuesday and carried the South Americans to their first Women's World Cup quarterfinal.

The captain's 51st-minute strike sent Colombian fans into delirium at a packed Melbourne Rectangular Stadium and ensured the last American team in the tournament will battle England for a place in the last four.

"We are representing the whole continent of South America," Colombia coach Nelson Abadia told reporters.

Megan Rapinoe did not get the Women's World Cup farewell she wanted on Sunday, a penalty that sailed over the crossbar the last international play by one of the United States' most decorated players.

American soccer's charismatic figurehead was sent on as a substitute in extra time but the last-16 game against old foes Sweden ended 0-0 before the Swedes won the penalty shootout 5-4.

Rapinoe was one of three American players to miss her spot-kick.

Rapinoe misses the fourth!