England put in one of the all-time classic UEFA Women’s EURO performances as they battered Norway 8-0 at the Amex Stadium in Brighton this evening.
Beth Mead netted a hat-trick, Ellen White helped herself to a brace, while there were also goals for Georgia Stanway, Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo on the South Coast as the Lionesses ran riot.
England were given a golden opportunity to break the deadlock in the 12th minute when Maria Thorisdottir fouled White in the box. Stanway stepped up to take the penalty and successfully converted from 12 yards.
Three minutes later, Hemp bundled in from a Mead pass. VAR reviewed the move and correctly awarded England their second goal.
White then capitalised on another Thorisdottir blunder to slot in number three before Mead headed home the fourth from a Hemp cross.
It was Mead again who was on target as she danced her way across the box and slammed home England’s fifth goal before White got on the end of a Fran Kirby cross to hand England a 6-0 half-time lead.
The goals took a little time to return in the second half but the Lionesses were able to add a couple more to their tally.
Substitute Russo headed home a Lucy Bronze cross in the 66th minute to make it 7-0 before Chloe Kelly saw her effort cleared off the line. Alex Greenwood then saw a shot rattle the crossbar while Bronze was unable to trouble Norwegian keeper Guro Pettersen with the follow up.
England completed their 8-0 victory through Mead who bundled in from close range after Keira Walsh’s initial effort was saved by Pettersen.
The Lionesses qualify from Group A as winners with a game against Northern Ireland to spare while Norway face a nail-biting final group game against Austria on Friday.
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