Fans go wild as England beat Colombia in first ever World Cup penalty shootout victory

Jubilant scenes erupted across the UK after England’s nail-biting penalties win over Colombia made football history.

Tense atmospheres erupted into celebration at the climax of the 4 – 3 penalty shootout.

Cheers erupted as cheers of “It’s Coming Home” echoed out in streets across the country

Excited crowds stopped traffic in central London as celebrations spilled out of pubs around Borough Market and in Camden.

Amazing images showed relieved fans hug, cheer and wave England flags in nearby Flat Iron Square and Croydon Box Park.

While one excited fan was pictured on the top of a double decker bus in Camden.

Fans go wild in Croydon Box Park
Getty Images

Joe O'Neill, 27, of Hastings, who was watching the game on Brighton beach, said: "I thought it was all over just before Colombia scored.

"But then when we won the penalties that was the best moment in the history of English football.

"I felt exhausted, stressed, elated.

"It was unbelievable."

Fans celebrate England's win in Croydon
Getty Images

Captain Harry Kane put England ahead early on in the second half with a penalty but England fans descended into despair as Colombia equalised in the 93rd minute.

Fans go wild on Brighton Beach
PA

After an uneventful half hour of extra time, the Three Lions were forced to enter a penalty shootout with echoes of previous losses looming.

Harry Kane's penalty set the tone for an England squad who have exceeded expectations at the tournament, and teammate Eric Dier ensured the Three Lions' place in the quarter finals, though Liverpool's Jordan Henderson will have to live down an unfortunate save.

Superior supporter numbers counted for nothing as the Three Lions won their first knockout game since 2006 to qualify for the quarter final.

Sales through the Football Association's Travel Club were the lowest since the Tunisia game, with 1,520 fans buying through the FA.

A further 735 were sold via the Fifa allocation so those with official tickets will make up 2,225 in total, although the numbers in the stadium were likely to be higher as a result of those who have purchased ticket from unauthorised sellers and other fans.

Meanwhile, one Colombian fan, Jaime Diaz, said he believed 50,000 of his compatriots had travelled to Russia for the World Cup.

Celebrations erupt at Croydon Box Park
Getty Images

The perception was borne out outside the stadium as well as inside for a handful of England fans who perched in a narrow corner in a bar near Spartak Stadium, totally outnumbered by Colombia supporters without tickets.

They stood for the nationals anthem and sang "please don't take me home" and "it's coming home" until they were drowned out by the response of "vamos Colombia".

Supporters in central Moscow
EPA

Jay Kumar, 55, from Northolt, west London, and his friend Johnny Rai, 59, from Hayes, west London travelled to London on Sunday without tickets.

But they refused to pay inflated ticket prices of up to 1,000 US dollars (£758) outside the stadium and so settled for the nearby Beer and Beard Bar.

And they cheered and toasted England captain Harry Kane's goal from the penalty, which silenced the Colombian crowd.

After celebrating the shootout win, Mr Kumar said: "It's unbelievable I don't know what to say.

"Especially in a bar full of Colombians - I feel sorry for them.

"We could celebrate more but these guys are hurting."

And Mr Rai added: "Brilliant and I love it."

Asked if England can win the tournament now he replied: "We hardly won that one.

"That was tough."

England will face Sweden in the quarter finals on Saturday.

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