European champion England top Nigeria on penalties to reach Women's World Cup quarterfinals

07.08.2023 - 12:31 cbc.ca

England won without star Lauren James, who was ejected with a red card, to beat Nigeria on penalty kicks Monday and advance to the quarterfinals at the Women's World Cup.

The round of 16 match ended 0-0 after regulation and extra time, giving Nigeria a chance to win a knockout match at the Women's World Cup for the first time in nine trips to the global tournament.

But European champion England won the shootout 4-2 when substitute forward Chloe Kelly converted the last kick. Then with five minutes remaining in regulation, England star forward James was ejected after a VAR review on her violent tackle of a Nigeria defender.

She initially was given a yellow card by referee Melissa Borjas after falling on top of Michelle Alozie and stepping on her with her studs as James climbed off Alozie.

show cup on penalties David Beckham Diego Simeone Star Chloe Kelly Lauren James Britain France Argentina Nigeria

History will be made at the Women's World Cup on Sunday when England and Spain clash in the final in Sydney with both bidding to win the tournament for the first time. The game kicks off at 1000 GMT in front of an anticipated sell-out crowd of about 75,000 at Stadium Australia. It will be the final act of a tournament full of shocks which began one month ago and started with 32 teams, making it the biggest Women's World Cup ever. Now they are down to the last two and it's a final too close to call. Neither team has ever got this far before. The two sides last met at the European Championship last summer, when hosts England squeezed into the semi-finals 2-1 in extra time and went on to lift the trophy.

England Must Play 'Game Of Our Lives' In FIFA Women's World Cup Final, Says Millie Bright

Skipper Millie Bright said that England will need to play "the game of our lives" to beat Spain in Sunday's Women's World Cup final. When the Lionesses kick off at Stadium Australia in Sydney they will attempt to do what no England side, men or women, has managed since 1966 -- win the World Cup. Bright said the European champions must treat it as just another game, but admitted there was no escaping the enormity of the occasion for the country, the team and the players. Like Spain, England are into the final for the first time. "We know how passionate our nation is back home and how much they want us to win," Bright said on Saturday.

England Survive Bruising Colombia Test To Reach Women's World Cup Semi-Finals

England fought back from a goal down to beat Colombia 2-1 on Saturday in a bruising encounter and set up a tasty Women's World Cup semi-final with Australia. Arsenal forward Alessia Russo scored the winner for the European champions just after the hour in front of 75,000 in Sydney to end Colombia's run in the tournament. Earlier in the day, co-hosts Australia beat France 7-6 in a thrilling penalty shootout in Brisbane to reach the last four for the first time in their history.

England search for Women's World Cup mojo after Nigeria scare - ESPN

SYDNEY — As the penalty shootout was about to get under way, the England players stood in a line together just in front of the halfway line. Nigeria had made them wait, taking an extra minute or so to group. But England were focused, anchored in what they call «the process.»

African teams missing as Women’s World Cup quarterfinals begin

FIFA Women World Cup trophy. PIX: FIFA

England's Women's World Cup hopes take major hit as Lauren James receives 2-game ban for stepping on player

Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.