TIANJIN, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Twice champions the United States tasted a bitter sweet of going through from hell to heaven here on Saturday as they beat England 3-0 in World Cup quarterfinals.

The American team played a 20-minute good game in the second half to knock out the 12-ranked England with an arguable 3-0 win at their World Cup quarterfinal encounter.

The victory ensured a last-four showing up for the Americans, who're heading for a third time to lift the trophy after their 1991 and 1999 runs, and snapped the unbeaten streak of the English team, the one from the home to the morden game and having emerged in the ongoing tournament as one of the hottest Dark Horses.

Abby Wambach headed in a Krisstine Lilly's corner with just two minutes after the break to earn the United States a 1-0 lead, which had been hard to imagine through their sluggish performance in the first half.

The goal kicked off the scoring waves of the Americans, as midfield veteran Shannon Boxx got a nice control of the ball after her teammate stole it halfway from the England's building up run and drove home a superb long shot from 33 meters away in the 57 minute.

Just three minutes later, Lilly performed a perfect individual show, running the ball from midfield into the penalty box and beating England goalie Rachel Brown with a dazzling pass to goal.

The scoring line remained goalless at break, however, as the United States struggled in finding efficient methods to break apiece England's solid defense while failing to block effectively against the rivals' aggressive attacks.

With the players having seemed to be too cautious to go sharply, the American team were almost outplayed by the bullheaded England in the opening minutes and only managed their first attacking effort after five minutes into the game.

England, however, showed much better personal capabilities and came in a more aggressive mood with some real creative and flowing play.

They built patiently from the back and attacked the flanks, with Arsenal forward Karen Carny setting the ball from 33 meters away to pick up Eniola Aluko inside the penalty box before the latter hesitated to miss the best chance of scoring.

And just two minutes later, the herotic Carny made the upper scene repeated and this time came to Jill Scott, whose heading-up run forced a deadly clearing move from the England keeper and defenders.

The Englishwomen, however, lost all their patience after trailing 3-0 in the second half, attacking desperately with several good opportunities created by key striker Kelly Smith and substitute Rachel Yankey, but none of them having been converted into goals.

For the semifinals, the United States will play Sunday's winners between Brazil and Australia in Hongzhou on Thursday.