Moscow, July 4(TNS): England won a knockout game in a World Cup for the first time in 12 years as they defeated Colombia 4-3 on penalties to book a semi-final berth on Wednesday in the Spartak Stadium.
The three lions won the game in dramatic fashion as skipper Harry Kane became the highest goal scoring captain in his debut World Cup (6 goals).
Kane opened the scoring in the 57th minute when a penalty was awarded after Carlos Sanchez was found wrestling with the England captain on a set-piece situation.
The England skipper made no mistake from 12 yards and became the first English striker since 1939 to score in 6 consecutive games.
James Rodriguez watched the game from the bench as a fan, as he suffered an injury in the third game of the group stage.
However, Colombia still managed to cause drama in the end as their top-goalscorer [a Centre-back] scored his third goal in the world cup in stoppage time to force the tie into the extra time.
England looked lacklustre and were lucky to get through extra time harmless, the game went onto penalties.
England who had never won a penalty shootout in a major tournament on four attempts were looking at an early world cup exit, when Jordan Henderson’s penalty was denied by a brilliant save by Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina.
But Jordan Pickford had other ideas as he saved the next penalty to drag England right back into it.
All eyes were on Eric Dier, nestled the ball into the net with supreme authority as England made to the last eight where they will face Sweden on July 7.
