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| Millie Bright celebrates her goal (pic - The Guardian) |
On a cold, wet and windy night at the Daugava Stadium in Riga, England Lionesses made it 4 wins from 4 in the world cup qualifiers with a comprehensive 0-10 victory over a woeful but spirited Latvian side. Manchester United star Ella Toone set the tone with a quick fire double giving the visitors a 2-0 lead before the 15' minute mark taking her tally to 4 for the national side.
Stalwart Ellen White then scored goal number 44 for the Lionesses with a simple one on one situation against keeper Enija-Anna Vaivode who was busy all night which saw White slot the ball into the left hand corner. But it was Vaivode who arguable won the war against the experienced White when the Latvian stopper made a fantastic double save after England were awarded a penalty after a dubious call from the referee.
The away side didn't have to wait long for a fourth when experienced defender Millie Bright ghosted around the lackluster defense with a goal at the back post from a set piece on the 32 minute mark taking the away side into the break with a four goal advantage.
HALF TIME : Latvia 0-4 England
Manager Sarina Wiegman ran the changes after the break which saw Nikita Parris, Demi Stokes, Rachel Daly and Georgia Stanway replace Ellen White, Lauren Hemp, Fran Kirby and Alex Greenwood.
The Lionesses started the second half just like the first, dominant in possession and constantly bombarding the tiring Latvian defence. Last week's hat-trick star Beth Mead then added a fifth goal taking it past the full-back before placing it around the goalkeeper and into the far corner after a pinpoint pass from Georgia Stanway.
Like Mead against Northern Ireland, Beth Toone then put her self in lionesses history by completing her first International hat-trick after she weaved into the box before thumping it into the roof of the net.
Chelsea Women's manager Emma Hayes who was commentating on the fixture on ITV 4 said: "Uefa and Fifa need to invest more in the smaller nations and grow the game worldwide" as Latvia crumbled in the final 30 minutes which saw Rachel Daly score a tap in from Meads assist before skipper Leah Williamson scored the goal of the night with a calm and collected curl into the top corner and into the side netting
The Lionesses have been electric in front of goal during the world cup qualifiers with a 22-0 goal difference after thumping's against North Macedonia and Luxembourg and the victory most recently over fellow home nation Northern Ireland and tonight was no different. Manchester City's Georgia Stanway was next to get on the scoresheet with a neat finish after the forward cut inside the Latvian box with plenty of space to place the ball in the bottom corner.
The girls hit double figures on 81 minutes when Beth Mead provided another precise pass which found Rachel Daly who rounded the keeper before poking it into an empty net.
England outclassed the Latvians in all departments having 78% and a staggering 57 shots whereas the Latvians spent the majority of the game defending their back line and Penalty area.
The Lionesses top group D with 32 goals scored and 0 conceded but ultimately, the team and manager know each game will not be as comfortable as tonight's drubbing in the Baltics.
The girls are back on International duty at the end of November with home ties against Austria and tonight's opponents Latvia, who will already be dreading the trip to Doncaster.
FULL TIME : Latvia 0-10 England
Women of the match - Ella Toone
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