The latest batch of France 2019 World Cup qualifiers featured stoppage time winners for Spain in Serbia and Ukraine in Hungary, while Portugal put eight past Moldova.
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP QUALIFYING ROUND
Thursday 23rd November
GROUP 7 – Austria 2-0 Israel
Friday 24th November
GROUP 1 – Wales 1-0 Kazakhstan, England 4-0 Bosnia and Herzegovina
GROUP 2 – Albania 1-4 Poland, Switzerland 3-0 Belarus
GROUP 3 – Slovakia 0-5 Netherlands
GROUP 4 – Hungary 0-1 Ukraine
GROUP 5 – Slovenia 5-0 Faroe Islands
GROUP 6 – Portugal 8-0 Moldova
GROUP 7 – Serbia 1-2 Spain
Wales held onto the Group 1 leadership, Hayley Ladd making the 83rd-minute breakthrough to beat Kazakhstan.
England leapfrogged Bosnia and Herzegovina into second place after defeating them 4-0. Steph Houghton got the only first-half goal but Nikita Parris netted moments after the interval. Houghton tucked in a free-kick for 3-0 and Fran Kirby added the fourth from the spot.
Poland sent hosts Albania to a fourth loss in Group 2 with a 4-1 scoreline. Aleksandra Sikora and Agata Guściora scored in the first 13 minutes, with Agnieszka Winzco bagging a brace before Megi Doci’s consolation.
Switzerland are top of the table though after a third win on the trot, 3-0 over Belarus. Viola Calligaris and Lia Waiti netted second apart inside the first 20 minutes, substitute Géraldine Reuteler with the third for the dominant Swiss.
Slovakia limited EURO 2017 winners the Netherlands to a Stephanie van der Gragt goal until the Dutch struck three times around the interval. Sherida Spitse doubled the advantage on 42 minutes and Vivianne Miedema scored in added time, before getting her second straight after the restart. Van der Gragt completed the scoring at 5-0 in the 91st minute.
Hungary were denied a second point n four games. as Ukraine went away 1-0 winners in Group 4. Daryna Apanaschenko got a dramatic 94th-minute decider, as the visitors made it four points from two matches.
Slovenia got off the mark at the third time of asking in Group 5, thrashing Faroe Islands 5-0. Lara Prašnikar hit a hat-trick, with one each for Sara Agrež and Spela Rozmarič.
Portugal banked their first points in style, crushing Moldova 8-0 with five of their players on the scoresheet. Carole Costa and Vanessa Marques got a couple each, singles from Carolina Mendes, Diana Silva and a Dolores Silva penalty, plus a Olga Cuşinova own-goal. Moldova had Natalia Munteanu sent-off for a second yellow card, 8 minutes from time.
Serbia were desperately close to holding Spain to a draw, who made it back to back wins with a stoppage-time effort in Group 7. Jennifer Hermoso’s 13th-minute opener was cancelled out a dozen minutes from time by Nevena Damjanović, only for Patricia Guijarro to restore lead lead at the death.
Also in Group 7, Austria made it two wins from two games, Sarah Puntigam and Nina Burger the scorers in a 2-0 defeat of Israel.
