UEFA Euros

Scotland women crush Israel

Saturday, 16 June 2012

UEFA Women's Euro 2013 Qualifiers
Scotland 8-0 Israel
Saturday 16th June 2012, kick-off 3 pm
Tynecastle Stadium, Edinburgh

Lauder 1', Little 6', 25', 44' Sneddon 9', Love 15', J Ross 28', Corsie 83'

Scotland crushed Israel on a sodden afternoon at Tynecastle to consolidate second place in group 4.

Kim Little grabbed a first-half hat-trick and Hayley Lauder, Megan Sneddon, Jo Love, Jane Ross and Rachel Corsie were all on target as Scotland prepare to face closest rivals Republic of Ireland in Cork next week.

Anna Signeul's side raced into an early lead, hitting the net three times within the first ten minutes, and had the match wrapped up before half-time, going into the dressing room 7-0 up.

Lauder opened the scoring inside a minute, and Little made it two with a powerful strike from the edge of the box that left Israel goalkeeper Merav Shamir with no chance.

Sneddon, who is set to pick up her 100th cap in next week's match against Republic of Ireland in Cork, got the third with another thunderous shot from the edge of the box Love was next on the score-sheet.

The Glasgow City midfielder got onto the end of a Lauder cross, and despite being off-balance, sent a looping header high into the net.

There was no let-up from Scotland, who were camped within their opponents half by this point.

After some neat play by Sneddon and Little in midfield, Jane Ross found herself clear on goal, but a last ditch tackle by Diana Redman prevented the Glasgow City striker from getting her shot away.

Ross then sent a delightfully weighted ball into the box for Jennifer Beattie, but again some last ditch defending, this time by Maya Barqui, stopped another shot on goal.

It was another Ross ball that led to goal number five. Her cut-back from the by-line was directly to the feet of Little, who sent a low shot past Shamir.

Ross, who was by now tormenting the Israel defence, got a goal of her own just before the half-hour. She pounced on a

ball into the box and rounded Shamir to slot coolly into the bottom corner.

Scotland goalkeeper Gemma Fay got her first touch of the ball in the 37th minute as she calmly dealt with a back-pass as Adva Tawil ventured into the Scotland half.

Little got her hat-trick just before half-time. A Ross ball in from the right wing found its way to the Arsenal midfielder in the crowded box. Shamir got her hands onto the ball but couldn't prevent it finding its way into the net.

The pace slowed in the second half, but Scotland continued to press forward.

Lisa Evans, bound for German champions Turbine Potsdam in July, injected fresh pace down the left wing when she entered the fray in the 67th minute. She raced to the byline and sent in a perfectly weighted cross for Jane Ross, who was thwarted by Shamir.

Second-half substitute Rachel Corsie, who had earlier stung the hands of Shamir with a shot from distance, rose inside the box to head home goal number eight.

Scotland:

Fay (GK, Cpt), Jones, Small (Corsie, 74), Dieke, Love (L Ross, 67), Lauder (Evans, 67), Little, Sneddon, Beattie, J Ross, Fernon.

Subs: Lynn (GK), Thomson, Brown, Mitchell

Israel:

Shamir (GK), Ravitz, Redman, Y Cohen (Falkon, 46), Shenar (Sendel, 64), Shelina, Tawil, Erez, Fridman, Barqui, Moran (Cpt).

Subs: Kadari, N Cohen, Eni, Abo, Levo.