NewsZara Shaw scores winning penalty as England reach U17 Women's World Cup semi-final

The Liverpool FC Women midfielder was a key figure overnight as her nation saw off Japan in a shootout in their last-eight clash in Santo Domingo.

Three goals in a six-minute spell during the first half had Japan 2-1 up, with strikes by Yuna Aoki and Hina Hirakawa sandwiching an Erica Parkinson response for England.

Shaw levelled the quarter-final with a low header from a corner midway through the second half, and her side would then prevail 4-1 in the shootout.

Her kick was the clinching one, too, with Shaw calmly lifting the ball down the middle after Rebekah Dowsett had saved two of Japan’s efforts.

Reds goalkeeper Eva Spencer was an unused substitute for England, who will now face Spain in the semi-finals late on Thursday night (October 31).