Latvia 0-10 England: Lionesses maintain 100% record in Women's World Cup qualifying

Latvia 0-10 England: Lionesses maintain 100% record in Women's World Cup qualifying
_121229577_milliebright.jpgDefender Millie Bright got her third goal in three matches after scoring twice in the 10-0 win over Luxembourg

Ella Toone scored a hat-trick as England hit 10 goals against Latvia to maintain their 100% record in Women's World Cup qualifying.

Ellen White grabbed her 44th England goal to move joint second overall in the list of the nation's top female goalscorers - and also had a penalty saved as the Lionesses were in total control.

Manchester United's Toone was twice left unmarked and scored the first two in the opening 12 minutes and got her third in the second half, beating the goalkeeper at the near post.

Chelsea defender Millie Bright then scored from close range, Beth Mead grabbed a goal with a composed finish and substitute Rachel Daly tapped in from a few yards out.

Captain Leah Williamson curled home an eighth goal and Georgia Stanway arrowed a low shot into the bottom corner for number nine.

Daly rounded the keeper for England's 10th - the second time in qualifying they had reached double figures following their 10-0 win in Luxembourg last month.

However, they fell short of their biggest-ever competitive victory - a 13-0 success against Hungary back in 2005.

The latest victory keeps England top of Group D, with four wins from four, having scored 32 goals and conceded none.

A perfect birthday present for boss Wiegman

The result continued a remarkable run of results since Sarina Wiegman became England boss, with her four games in charge seeing an 8-0 win over North Macedonia, 10 goals against Luxembourg, a 4-0 success over Northern Ireland and now this easy triumph.

Wiegman, who turned 52 on Tuesday, will have been delighted with the professional nature of the victory that saw absolute dominance after she had named an attacking line-up.

England had 78% possession, 58 shots - 21 of which were on target - and 24 corners. Latvia, ranked 102nd in the world - 94 places below England - registered zero shots and did not have one corner.

Only the performance of home goalkeeper Enija Anna Vaivode spared Latvia from further embarrassment.

She kept out White's penalty as the striker missed the chance to overtake Kerry Davis' total of 44 goals, although White's earlier goal left her only two away from record holder Kelly Smith's mark of 46.

'We don't want to be watching games which are cricket scores'

Chelsea manager Emma Hayes, on ITV4 commentary, felt this was not a good advert for the women's game. She said: "Uefa needs to invest more in the smaller nations and grow the game worldwide.

"England can only beat what's in front of them, but we don't want to be watching games which are cricket scores. A team like Latvia needs more funding, more support, probably a better calendar schedule.

"Latvia have defended for their lives in the second half as best as they can. It's all about what Fifa and Uefa can do to divert funds to grow countries like Latvia and their leagues.

"Maybe have something like the Nations League in the men's game - something needs to be done - 10-0 games are not good for the game."

placeholder.png

Player of the match

TooneElla Toone

Latvia Women

Squad number23Player nameVaivode

Squad number11Player nameFedotova

Squad number13Player nameVoitane

Squad number8Player nameZaicikova

Squad number22Player nameGergeleziu

Squad number5Player nameGirzda

Squad number15Player nameBaliceva

Squad number14Player nameSevcova

Squad number19Player nameMiksone

Squad number7Player nameEglite

Squad number10Player nameRocane

Squad number6Player nameLubina

Squad number4Player nameGaike

Squad number2Player nameTumane

Squad number18Player nameSilova

Line-ups

Latvia Women

Formation 4-2-3-1

23Vaivode

13Voitane22Gergeleziu6Lubina2Tumane

19Miksone10Rocane

8Zaicikova11Fedotova14Sevcova

15Baliceva

23Vaivode13Voitane22Gergeleziu6Lubina2TumaneSubstituted forEgliteat 77'minutes19Miksone10RocaneSubstituted forGirzdaat 86'minutes8Zaicikova11FedotovaSubstituted forGaikeat 69'minutes14Sevcova15BalicevaSubstituted forSilovaat 77'minutes

Substitutes

1Skujevska3Lodzina4Gaike5Girzda7Eglite9Cemirtane12Lindermane16Vitmore17Gricijenko18Silova20Brahmane

England

Formation 3-5-2

1Earps

2Bright3Williamson5Greenwood

7Mead8Kirby4Walsh6Toone11Hemp

10England9White

1Earps2Bright3Williamson5GreenwoodSubstituted forStokesat 45'minutes7Mead8KirbySubstituted forStanwayat 45'minutes4Walsh6TooneSubstituted forWubben-Moyat 69'minutes11HempSubstituted forParrisat 45'minutes10England9WhiteSubstituted forDalyat 45'minutes

Substitutes

13MacIver14Daly15Stanway16Wubben-Moy17Parris18Staniforth19Stokes20Scott21Hampton22Russo23CarterReferee:Katarzyna Lisiecka

Live Text

Match ends, Latvia Women 0, England 10.

Second Half ends, Latvia Women 0, England 10.

Attempt blocked. Rachel Daly (England) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

Rachel Daly (England) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Arta Lubina (Latvia Women).

Attempt blocked. Rachel Daly (England) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Nikita Parris.

Substitution, Latvia Women. Kristine Girzda replaces Anastasija Rocane.

Attempt missed. Keira Walsh (England) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Beth Mead following a corner.

Corner, England. Conceded by Olga Sevcova.

Georgia Stanway (England) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Olga Sevcova (Latvia Women).

Goal! Latvia Women 0, England 10. Rachel Daly (England) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Beth Mead with a through ball.

Goal! Latvia Women 0, England 9. Georgia Stanway (England) left footed shot from the right side of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Nikita Parris.

Attempt missed. Beth Mead (England) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Georgia Stanway following a fast break.

Goal! Latvia Women 0, England 8. Leah Williamson (England) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Georgia Stanway following a corner.

Corner, England. Conceded by Enija-Anna Vaivode.

Attempt saved. Bethany England (England) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Lotte Wubben-Moy.

Corner, England. Conceded by Olga Sevcova.

Substitution, Latvia Women. Alina Silova replaces Tatjana Baliceva.

Substitution, Latvia Women. Dzeina Eglite replaces Ligita Tumane.

Source Link