Sam Kerr will ‘know’ that she wasted two golden opportunities to send Australia through to the World Cup final, a former Matilda has claimed.

Kerr, 29, provided a timely reminder why she is the best player in world football after scoring a stunning goal for Australia in their semi-final defeat by England, hitting the back of the net from 25 yards out. 

But after Lauren Hemp re-established England’s one-goal lead, Kerr was presented with two gilt-edged chances to level the scores once more, but wasted them.

First, she failed to provide a deft header from a wonderful Mary Fowler cross, which was ultimately misdirected. Moments later she ballooned an effort over the bar from six yards out.

England swiftly went up the other end and scored through Alessia Russo, putting the tie to bed.

Elise Kellond-Knight says Sam Kerr will know she wasted two glorious opportunities

Kerr scored a stunning goal but missed two gilt-edged chances on Wednesday night

And Elise Kellond-Knight said Kerr will be well aware that she should have put her chances away. 

‘Sam knows. I don’t want to talk about it too much – they were two critical chances,’ Kellond-Knight said on Channel 7.

‘It could’ve gone another way tonight if (not for) a few centimetres in that game.

‘On one of them, even if she just left the ball… you could see her looking back going “I shouldn’t have touched that”.’

A deflated Tony Gustavsson rued Australia’s missed opportunities, while England made their chances count. 

‘Obviously, we are going to analyse it,’ he said. ‘Right now initially it’s conversion rate. It’s conversion to chances. In the second half we are 12 to their nine and they scored three goals. In the 83rd and 85th minute we nearly scored two. It is one of those nights they were more clinical in finishing.

‘We learnt a lot when we played them last time and they are a bit vulnerable in transition. Their defending was very solid in the first half. I think it was two teams that nullified each other. 

‘They took out our transition game and very, very few chances in the first half. Then in the second half I think that we let go a little bit. 

Kerr was on the losing team as Australia crashed out of the Women’s World Cup

‘We told them at half time to be more confident on the ball and play the way we can play. When we started to do that we dominated the game but unfortunately didn’t pay off with enough goals.

‘I am happy that the fans gave the players support after the game. The reason that they are did that they are proud of the players that they are proud of the players that they leave everything out there. 

‘We promised each other we would leave everything out there and that is a successful and they left it all out there. Unfortunately tonight it wasn’t enough.’

Klay Thompson scored 30 points with eight 3-pointers, Golden State limited Anthony Davis while allowing LeBron James 23 points, and the defending champion Warriors evened their Western Conference semifinal with the Los Angeles Lakers at one game apiece with a 127-100 win Thursday night.

Stephen Curry added 20 points and 12 assists as Splash Brother Thompson shined to help Golden State make 21 more 3-pointers – giving the Warriors an NBA record for most in the first two games of a playoff series at 42. James’ Cavaliers hit 40 against Atlanta in the 2016 second round.

Coach Steve Kerr switched things up and inserted JaMychal Green into the starting lineup for Kevon Looney, who had a career-high 23 rebounds in Game 1 but has been dealing with an illness.

Kerr aimed to give a different look with scoring options and perhaps more free-throw chances by going hard at Davis in the paint – where Golden State got thoroughly outplayed in a 117-112 loss in the opener.

Thompson’s basket with 7:48 left in the third gave Golden State its biggest lead at 82-64 and the Warriors rolled from there.

The Golden State Warriors defeated the Los Angles Lakers 127-100 to tie the series at 1-1 

Klay Thompson led the game with 30 points as he was able to guide his team to a huge win

The Warriors shooting guard turned in a strong shooting performance going 8-11 from deep

The Warriors had more fast-break points and points in the paint. JaMychal Green matched his playoff career high with 15 points, while Draymond Green contributed 11 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists after insisting he had to get more aggressive.

The best-of-seven series shifts to Los Angeles for Game 3 on Saturday.

James shot 6 for 8 in the first with a pair of 3s for 14 points as the Lakers led 33-26. He retrieved a loose ball and let it fly for a pretty 3 with 7:47 before halftime but the Warriors were too much.

Davis followed up his brilliant Game 1 performance – 30 points, 23 rebounds, five assists and four blocked shots and 11-for-19 shooting – with 11 points while shooting 5 for 11, seven rebounds, four assists and three blocks.

Golden State outscored the Lakers 84-47 over the second and third quarters – recording two 40-point quarters in the same playoff game for the first time in franchise history.

LeBron James recorded a shockingly low -27 as LA was outscored badly when he was playing

Stephen Curry and Draymond Green both registered double-doubles in the landslide win 

Looney received huge roars as he came off the bench for his first action with 3:41 left in the first. He grabbed eight rebounds and scored six points playing just less than 12 minutes.

Kerr was hardly worried ahead of Game 2, pointing to how Golden State lost Game 1 of the NBA Finals at home to Boston last year before winning it all.

The Warriors also rallied from a 2-0 deficit in their first-round series to beat Sacramento, the first defending champion to ever do so.

Thompson shot 11 for 18 and 8 of 11 from deep. His 19 points in the first half were his most in a postseason contest since he scored 21 in Game 6 against the Rockets in 2019. 

Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui has issued an apology to supporters after their heavy 6-0 defeat by Brighton at the Amex. 

Deniz Undav, Danny Welbeck and Pascal Gross all scored braces for the Seagulls to inflict Wolves’ heaviest Premier League loss. 

Lopetegui claimed responsibility as he called on his players to be ready for next weekend’s Midlands derby against Aston Villa.   

‘It’s not easy to make an assessment about the match because it’s a very bad day for us,’ the 56-year-old said after the defeat. 

‘Maybe we must face the first point of view, that we suffered early two goals that we have to avoid.

Wolves suffered their worst Premier League loss after their defeat by Brighton at the Amex

Julen Lopetegui has issued an apology but reminded fans to remember the progress made

Deniz Undav, Danny Welbeck and Pascal Gross all scored braces for Brighton on Saturday 

‘For the first we had 10 players behind the ball and we could do better. For the second goal we lost the ball and after the second goal it is hard for us.

‘You prepare for the match in a true situation and then they have more confidence and against this kind of team it’s very important to do good things but also to not suffer very easy goals like we suffered.

‘It has been a very hard day for us but when you have a very hard day like today the responsibility is on me as the coach.

‘I accept my responsibility, we’re sorry a lot for the fans that came here but all together we have to be ready for the fight because we are in the middle of a battle.

‘Today we lost a battle but not the war so we have to continue to achieve our aim at the end of the season.’

Wolves capitulated from the start and found themselves four goals down in the first half through Undav, Pascal Gross’ double and Welbeck. 

Undav and Welbeck both scored again after the break to secure their braces and ensure Lopategui suffered his heaviest managerial defeat.

‘I apologise to the fans because they come here and it’s a bad day for them,’ the Wolves boss added.

‘We play for them and we are very sad.

‘But in the same way, it’s important to remember four months ago and now, at least, we have the possibility to be out of relegation. That is a very big aim for us.’

Despite the loss to Brighton, Wolves sit 13th in the Premier League table, eight points clear of the relegation zone.