England

6-0

Russia

A. Scott 10, Aluko 15, Carney 25, Smith 41, Yankey 64, Stoney 80

 

 
8 Mar 2007
VIDEO: England 6-0 Russia

In the first of three games on home soil, the Three Lions got off to the perfect start with a crushing victory over Russia.

International Friendly
7.45pm, Thursday 8 March 2007
National Hockey Stadium, Milton Keynes Dons FC

Hope Powell’s England began their trio of friendlies this week with a crushing victory over Russia, slamming six goals past their Eastern European opponents and looking extremely focused throughout.

With Scotland next up for the Three Lions at Wycombe on Sunday afternoon, this was the perfect way to return to home turf with half a dozen fine goals and some excellent attacking football throughout.

England started extremely brightly with a flurry of early opportunities on goal. Fara Williams and Eniola Aluko both saw efforts go wide of the post, while Rachel Yankey fired a volley just over the bar.

With just ten minutes on the clock the Three Lions took the lead through prolific defender Alex Scott. Scoring her third goal in five games the Arsenal right-back showed typical eagerness to get forward and involve herself in the attacks, before finishing from a sublime through-pass from Fara Williams.

Eniola Aluko then grabbed the second five minutes later. Latching onto a fine pass from England skipper Kelly Smith, the sprightly forward rounded the goalkeeper before slotting the ball home comfortably.

It was the Charlton forward's fourth goal for England, and the 20-year-old was involved in the third goal of the night as the hosts threatened to run riot over their Russian visitors.

With little more than a quarter of the game gone, the Three Lions were three ahead as Karen Carney rounded Maria Pigaleva following some fine build-up from Aluko and Yankey.

It was Yankey who played the final ball and punished the Russian defence who were intent on playing a high line at the back, allowing Carney the freedom to walk the ball into the goal.

Kelly Smith put England effectively out of sight of their opponents shortly before half-time, showing tremendous composure in front of goal to complete a hat-trick of first-half finishes where the Russian 'keeper was rounded and the ball guided into an empty net.

Aluko threaded a neat ball through to Carney whose first-time reverse ball to Smith gave her the freedom of the penalty area. With time on her side, Smith took the ball past Pigaleva with ease and slotted home the fourth goal of the night.

After the break England added to their lead through the most experienced player on the pitch. Rachel Yankey scored her 10th international goal after some strong approach play from substitute Jody Handley. Moments after making it five, Yankey nearly made it six but was denied by the foot of the post.

Casey Stoney wrapped up the scoring with a looping effort from over 35 yards out with ten minutes remaining.

Hope Powell's side will now be looking forward to their next game on Sunday when they take on the Auld Enemy, Scotland at Wycombe Wanderers. Click here for details.

Teams

England
1 Rachel Brown, 2 Alex Scott (12 Lindsay Johnson 57), 3 Casey Stoney, 4 Katie Chapman (16 Vicky Exley 86), 5 Anita Asante (20 Laura Bassett 86), 6 Emily Westwood (21 Stephanie Houghton 73), 7 Karen Carney, 8 Fara Williams (15 Jill Scott 73), 9 Eniola Aluko (17 Jody Handley 45), 10 Kelly Smith (c), 11 Rachel Yankey
Subs Not Used: 13 Siobhan Chamberlain, 14 Rachel Unitt, 18 Lianne Sanderson, 19 Sue Smith

Russia
Maria Pigaleva, Oxana Shmatchkova, Ksenia Tsybutovich, Olga Sergaeva (Anna Kozhnikova 69), Maria Dyachkova, Natalia Barbashina (Natalia Mokshanova 45), Elena Morozova, Olga Petrova (Olga Kremleva 45) Olesya Kurochkina (Svetlana Tsidikova 57), Valentina Savchenkova, Elena Fomina (c) (Tatiana Skotnikova 45)
Subs Not Used: Galina Vazhnova

Referee: Sasa Ihringova

Attendance: 5,421