The Lionesses have secured a place in the quarter-finals of the Women’s World Cup after a dramatic penalty shootout win over Nigeria.
England secured four goals while Nigeria scored two following the 123-minute match.
Lioness Chloe Kelly scored England’s winning goal following the other successful shots from Beth England, Rachel Daly and Alex Greenwood.
England will now face either Jamaica or Colombia in the quarter-finals on Saturday.
Speaking after the match, Kelly said: “We dig deep and we believe in our abilities and first and foremost we believe in what we’re being told to do.”
It comes after a tense game which saw England star Lauren James sent off with a red card after she stamped on the back of her fallen opponent leaving her team down to 10 players.
Lauren James was sent off for violent conduct
James, 21, was handed the red after 87 minutes following a VAR check after she walked across Nigeria’s Michelle Alozie’s back in what Gary Lineker called a “Beckhamesque moment of madness”.
Last year’s European champions are now through to the last eight following the shock exit of favourites the USA yesterday who lost to Sweden on penalties.
Former England international Lee Henrie said the match was “not a classic performance” from England adding that Nigeria were “excellent all over the pitch”.
He told Sky Sports News: “Brilliant penalties in the end from England and they are through to the quarter-finals. They have had to dig deep, it has not been a classic performance, you have to feel for Nigeria, who were excellent all over the pitch, they had a game plan and worked all over the pitch.
“Then it was all about England going down to 10 players and you feel can they just get through this period and have the belief to get through that, and they did.”
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Earlier in the match England could have had a penalty after Rachel Daly went down under contact from a Nigeria defender in the first half. But after looking at VAR the referee overturned her decision.
The team’s back three generally stood firm under the Nigeria pressure all game.
The match also saw the return of midfielder Keira Walsh who was back in action after she was stretchered off with a knee injury during England’s match against Denmark.