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Friday, March 13, 2026

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England hit Ukraine for six

Ukraine 1 (Kalinina 58) England 6 (Russo 47,51, Stanway pen 64,70, Park 78,89)  

England launched their FIFA Women's World Cup 2027 European qualifying campaign in emphatic style, securing a commanding 6-1 victory over Ukraine in their opening League A, Group 3 fixture.

The match, played at a neutral venue in Turkey due to the ongoing situation in Ukraine, remained goalless at half time despite England dominating proceedings. Laura Blindkilde Brown came closest for the Lionesses, striking the crossbar, while goalkeeper Kateryna Samson denied Georgia Stanway from distance. Alessia Russo spurned opportunities, and Lotte Wubben-Moy saw a clever back flick cleared off the line in the six yard area.

The game transformed after the interval as England seized control with a devastating second half display. Alessia Russo broke the deadlock shortly after the restart, slotting home after a precise pass from Keira Walsh. Just four minutes later, Russo netted her second following excellent build-up play involving Lauren Hemp, putting the European champions firmly in command.

Ukraine responded on the hour mark through Yana Kalinina, reducing the deficit to 2-1 with their first meaningful chance. However, any hopes of a revival were swiftly quashed. Hemp was fouled in the penalty area, allowing Stanway to convert the resulting spot kick with composure.

Stanway then added her second from the edge of the box to make it 4-1, before turning provider as she set up Jess Park, who escaped her marker and finished clinically. Park rounded off the scoring with a fine strike over Samson in the closing stages, completing her brace and sealing England's rout.

England now shift focus to their next qualifier on Saturday, hosting Iceland at a sold out City Ground in Nottingham.  

Ukraine: Kateryna Samson, Maryna Shainyuk, Yana Kotyk, Katerina Korsun, Olga Basanska, Veronika Andrukhiv (sub Viktoriya Hiryn 64mins), Yana Kalinina (sub Daryna Vorontsova 68mins), Anna Petryk, Olga Ovdiychuk, Roksolana Kravchuk (sub Inna Hlushchenko 64mins), Nicole Kozlova (sub Lidiia Zaborovets 9mins (sub Lesia Olkhova 86 mins). Subs not used: Kateryna Boklach, Dariia Keliushyk, Svitlana Kohut, Iryna Kotiash, Iryna Podolska, Lyubov Shmatko.  

England: Hannah Hampton, Maya Le Tissier, Taylor Hinds (sub Poppy Pattinson 45mins), Keira Walsh (sub Lucia Kendall 79mins), Leah Williamson (sub Esme Morgan 45mins), Lotte Wubben-Moy, Jess Park, Georgia Stanway, Alessia Russo (sub Aggie Beever-Jones 73mins), Laura Blindkilde Brown, Lauren Hemp (sub Lauren James 73mins). Subs not used: Lucy Bronze, Anna Moorhouse, Grace Fisk, Chloe Kelly, Aggie Beever-Jones, Ellie Roebuck, Jess Carter, Freya Godfrey.