England are in charge of their World Cup play-off with Greece after successful the primary leg 3-1 in Crete.
Objectives from Georgia Stanway, Maya Le Tissier and Alessia Russo moved the Lionesses into a robust place for Tuesday’s second leg in Leicester – though Calliste Brookshire, who performs for Rangers in Scotland, pulled one again late on for a Greece aspect ranked 58th on the planet. The winner will play Slovakia or Ukraine in spherical two on the highway to Brazil 2027.
Lauren James noticed a surprising chip from lengthy vary dominated out for offside within the first half however the Lionesses – compelled into the play-offs after ending behind Spain in qualifying – weren’t at their sharpest in that interval and so they had been nearly shocked when Ioanna Papatheodorou cracked a shot in opposition to the crossbar from 35 yards.
However England grabbed the benefit when Stanway completed a slick transfer that noticed her mix with Laura Blindkilde Brown and Russo.
Georgia Stanway scored England’s opener
Le Tissier then thumped in from an angle after the break earlier than Russo discovered the underside nook from Beth Mead’s sq. move simply 4 minutes later as England swiftly took the sport away from Greece.
Brookshire acquired on the scoresheet with some neat footwork within the field to present the underdogs some hope, however Jess Park blasted a shot in opposition to the underside of the crossbar in stoppage time, maybe signalling that Sarina Wiegman’s aspect have extra firepower of their arsenal for the return leg.
Key moments in Crete
England rejoice throughout their tie with Greece
12: ROOF OF THE NET! Keira Walsh’s tried lob from 18 yards has an excessive amount of on it and the ball lands on the roof of the online.
20: GOAL RULED OUT! James finds the online with an beautiful chip from 30 yards out… however an offside verify guidelines out the aim.
34: GREECE HIT THE BAR! Papatheodorou twists and turns as she runs previous Esme Morgan after which pings a shot in opposition to Hannah Hampton’s bar from 35 yards!
39: GOAL! Blindkilde Brown pops the ball into Russo, who lays it sq. for Stanway to present England the breakthrough.
63: GOAL! Le Tissier thumps in England’s second on the angle after earlier seeing two photographs parried away.
67: GOAL! Russo fires a 3rd into the underside nook from Mead’s sq. move within the field.
78: GOAL! Greece pull one again with Brookshire displaying some neat footwork within the field earlier than firing into the far backside nook.
Extra to comply with…