Belting goal from Lucy Bronze tops all-action England win against Norway as Lionesses progress to World Cup semi-finals

England’s Lionesses cruised into the semi-final of a World Cup for a second tournament in succession thanks to a relatively comfortable 3-0 victory against Norway.

While they were tested at times by their opponents, clinical finishing from Jill Scott and Ellen White and a second-half screamer from Lucy Bronze means England will be in France until the final weekend.

Despite almost constant rotation during the tournament so far, Phil Neville surprisingly made just one change from the win against Cameroon as Manchester City’s Demi Stokes replaced Manchester United’s Alex Greenwood.

England continued their tendency to start quick, on this occasion scoring their fastest ever Women’s World Cup goal inside two minutes through their most experienced player Bronze wasted no time in turning on the after-burners, beating Kristine Minde for pace before picking out Scott – via an Ellen White air shot – with the midfielder slotting home off the post to hand Neville the dream start.

While neither goalkeeper had a huge amount to do in the opening half an hour, it wasn’t a game short of chances.

Norway contained

White came close to doubling England’s advantage as she slammed a volley against the post shortly after Nikita Parris had cut inside and sliced a left-footed effort high and wide of the far corner.
Norway’s attacks were frequent without being overly threatening. Guro Reiten’s poor touch wasted a good opportunity after Parris failed to track the winger’s run, before the same player had a shot blocked from the edge of the box after some nifty footwork deceived England’s defence.

Neville’s side were doing a good job of handling the threat of Norway’s Caroline Graham Hansen, the new Barcelona signing who has been one of the stars of the tournament.

Conversely, Norway simply weren’t living with England’s incisive attacking play down the right side, with Parris and Bronze able to link up with ease, and it was no surprise when England doubled their lead shortly before the break. Bronze slipped in Parris and the winger once again had all the space in the world to pick out White, who had the task of tapping home from less than six yards.
Norway had to come out fighting and they spurned a big chance to reduce the deficit just minutes into the second half.

Minde’s cross was well cushioned by Isabell Herlovsen but Steph Houghton got back just in time to clear the danger and deny Graham Hansen a certain goal. Reiten went close once again but just couldn’t stretch enough to get on the end of Vilde Boe Risa’s knockdown before Karen Bardsley intervened.

Screamer from Bronze

If things looked to be getting a little nervous for England, Lyon’s Bronze put any doubts to bed to ensure she’ll be representing her country in her current home on Tuesday.

Four years on from her wonder strike against the same opponents, Bronze hit an eerily similar effort from Beth Mead’s free-kick to slam Neville’s side emphatically into the final four of the World Cup. England, though, continued to look uncertain at the back and Norway must have felt there was a curse on the Lionesses goal as they looked for a route back into the game.

Substitute Lisa-Marie Utland had an effort cleared off the line by the brilliant Houghton, before Bardsley came up big again on two successive occasions to preserve England’s clean sheet.

Read more: Millie Bright and Steph Houghton don’t need Phil Neville’s mind games to impress against Norway

England were gifted the chance to add a fourth when referee Lucila Venegas adjudged Houghton to have been pushed in the box, but for a second time in a row Parris missed a penalty, her effort brilliantly saved by Ingrid Hjelmseth.

It mattered little as England were well in control. Parris’s miss was but a blip on a very good performance. Hosts France or holders USA now await them in the semi-final.