SYDNEY: One of the greatest and oldest rivals in all of sport will be rekindled in the semi-finals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup between Australia and England.

The cohosts needed a nervy penalty shootout to see off France before England recovered from a goal down to end the exciting run of first-time quarter-finalists Colombia.

Australia made hard work of reaching their first semi-final 7-6 on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes in Brisbane. French dreams ended in the quarter-finals for the second successive tournament.

Cortnee Vine converted the decisive kick after France’s Vicki Becho had hit a post. The cohosts’ other star in the dramatic finale was keeper Mackenzie Arnold. She pulled off four saves including a double from  Kenza Dali including

Arnold had earlier wasted a chance to score the Matildas’ winning penalty when she hit a post after having just saved from Eve Perisset.

Australia, the first hosts to reach the semi-finals since United States in 2003, will play England at Stadium Australia in Sydney on Wednesday.

European champions England, missing the suspended Lauren James, were again not at their best against Colombia but a solid, professional performance ultimately proved sufficient.

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.

They fell behind in the first minute of the first half when keeper Mary Earps misjudged an floating cross-shot from Leicy Santos. However England hit back immediately when Colombia keeper Catalina Perez mishandled and Lauren Hemp pounced to equalise from close range with a 12th goal for her country.

Arsenal striker Alessia Russo, with only one goal to her credit thus far in the finals, doubled her tally by putting England in front midway through the second half.

Wednesday’s semi-final, expected to be played again in front of a full house 75,784, will be the Lionesses’ third in a row after defeats by Japan in 2015 and the US four yeatsa later.

Coach Sarina Wiegman said: “These are big games and it has some physicality too – for them and for us. That’s part of the game and we dealt with it really well.”

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