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Agony for England after six-goal victory

Scotland 0

England 6 (Greenwood 13, James 38,39, Mead 45, Kirby 49, Bronze 90)

att: 15,320; at Hampden Park  

An astonishing night at Hampden Park saw England storm to a 6-0 win against Scotland but still ended the night in crushing disappointment as it was not quite enough to displace the Netherlands from top spot in their UEFA Women’s Nations League group.  

Damaris Egurrola netted both goals as the Dutch scored twice in injury time to round off a 4-0 victory over Belgium, which means that they finish as group winners on goal difference by just a single goal. The Netherlands therefore go through to the semi finals along with World Champions Spain, France and Germany and two of those countries will join hosts France in next year’s Olympic Games in Paris.  

A crowd of 15,320 were present at Hampden Park for the final UEFA Women’s Nations League game of the campaign against the Auld Enemy.

England took the lead in the 13th minute when a Beth Mead corner was played into the box and Alex Greenwood rose above everyone else to head home into the bottom corner.

Scotland pushed to try and get an equaliser, creating a number of chances. A few minutes after England opened the scoring, Lisa Evans broke into the box, but a last gasp tackle prevented her from shooting. On the 22nd minute mark, Rachel McLauchlan forced Mary Earps to produce a great top corner save to deny her effort.

England doubled their lead in the 38th minute when Lauren James lifted the ball over the Scotland defence and towards goal, taking a deflection off the back of Nicola Docherty on the way in.

Only a minute after her first, James scored again. England won possession and broke towards the Scotland box with James receiving the ball on the edge of the box before firing a great finish into the far top corner.

Deep into stoppage time in the first half, England scored once again. James played a long ball into the box to Mead who took a few touches to get the ball out from under her feet before scoring from around 12 yards out.

England scored their fifth a few minutes after the restart when Georgia Stanway played a cross into the six yard area, which Fran Kirby tapped into the net.

Scotland came close to getting a goal in the 66th minute when Rachel Corsie had a header towards goal saved by Mary Earps, before Martha Thomas’ attempt at the rebound was blocked and cleared. In the 82nd minute, Abi Harrison’s improvised back heel at the front post went just wide of the target.

In stoppage time, Martha Thomas launched a powerful header towards goal which was denied by a great save from Mary Earps onto the post before it was cleared by the England defence.

In the final seconds of the game, Lucy Bronze made it 6-0. Ella Toone played a high ball into the box which met Bronze who had ran in at the back post area and headed a powerful finish home to round off the game.

England thought they had done enough and, at the time of Bronze’s goal, had moved into top spot but on the final whistle, news came through of a fourth Dutch goal and the Lionesses were left in the bizarre position of having won 6-0, but left wondering what might have been.

Scotland: Lee Gibson, Nicola Docherty, Emma Mukandi (sub Fiona Brown 45mins), Rachel Corsie, Samantha Kerr, Kirsty Hanson (sub Abi Harrison 79mins), Lisa Evans, Rachel McLauchlan (sub Jamie Lee Napier 45mins), Jenna Clark (sub Sophie Howard 45mins), Claire Emslie (sub Martha Thomas 64mins), Erin Cuthbert. Subs not used: Jenna Fife, Sandy MacIver, Kirsty MacLean, Hayley Lauder, Brogan Hay, Amy Rodgers, Lauren Davidson.  

England: Mary Earps, Lucy Bronze, Niamh Charles, Keira Walsh, Alex Greenwood, Esme Morgan, Beth Mead (sub Alessia Russo 65mins), Georgia Stanway, Fran Kirby (sub Ella Toone 65mins), Lauren James, Lauren Hemp. Subs not used: Hannah Hampton, Khiara Keating, Jess Carter, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Katie Zelem, Chloe Kelly, Grace Clinton, Rachel Daly, Maya Le Tissier, Millie Turner.