England set up a Women's World Cup semi-final with co-hosts Australia as they came from behind against a dangerous Colombia side.
The European champions, favourites to go all the way in Australia, have not played their best football in the tournament but this was a much more rounded display in front of a hostile crowd in Sydney.
Largely composed in defence and hard-working in attack, the Lionesses were rewarded with two slices of luck which they capitalised on, after goalkeeper Mary Earps had been beaten by a quick-thinking lob in the first half.
Lauren Hemp poked in the equaliser, just seven minutes after Leicy Santos had caught out Earps, when Colombia goalkeeper Catalina Perez spilled a routine gather in the six-yard area under pressure from Alessia Russo.
Arsenal striker Russo, who had only scored once in four World Cup matches prior to Saturday's quarter-final, worked tirelessly out of possession, earning her opportunity when she pounced on a kind deflection to drill in England's second.
Earps was called into action later, tipping Lorena Durango Bedoya's effort over the bar, while England were put under further pressure by Colombia's talented attacking line-up, which included Real Madrid's teenage sensation Linda Caicedo.
The Lionesses, who had to deal with a crowd of 75,784 who were largely backing Colombia, face co-hosts Australia next on 16 August at 11:00 BST, live on BBC.
It will be the Lionesses' third straight World Cup semi-final after defeats by the USA in 2019 and Japan in 2015.
Latest Stories
-
Inside StarLife Assurance: A perspective of excellence through internship
23 mins -
Postecoglou says ‘100% of fans’ want to beat Man City
28 mins -
Kidnapped Nigerian university students rescued
31 mins -
Cashew value chain actors in Africa undergo training in Sunyani
37 mins -
Limited Voters Registration: Police arrest 2 for attempting to register twice
40 mins -
Female judges key to eradication of negative cultural practices – Akufo-Addo
42 mins -
Brag: Ghanaian rappers roast Nigerian rapper on behalf of Sarkodie
50 mins -
Prof. John Kwaku Mensah Mawutor appointed as UPSA’s new Vice Chancellor
52 mins -
Sixteen killed as fighting intensifies for major Sudan city
53 mins -
Why an Ethiopian community buried lightning survivors
57 mins -
Aston Villa salvage draw with Liverpool after thrilling comeback
1 hour -
SML Deal: MFWA to petition RTI Commission over presidency’s refusal to grant request
1 hour -
A robust human rights protection regime an incentive for investment – Chief Justice
1 hour -
Your welfare paramount to us – Finance Minister tells GRA officers
2 hours -
Africa’s prosperity hinges on strategic infrastructure investment – Gabby Otchere-Darko
2 hours