Euro 2017 winners Netherlands were held at home by Republic of Ireland, while there were wins for England, Finland, Italy, Northern Ireland, Romania, Spain, Switzerland and Wales.
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP QUALIFYING ROUND
Sunday 26th November
GROUP 7 – Finland 4-0 Israel
Tuesday 28th November
GROUP 1 – Bosnia & Herzegovina 0-1 Wales, England 5-0 Kazakhstan
GROUP 2 – Switzerland 5-1 Albania
GROUP 3 – Slovakia 1-3 Northern Ireland, Netherlands 0-0 Republic of Ireland
GROUP 6 – Romania 3-1 Moldova, Portugal 0-1 Italy
GROUP 7 – Spain 4-0 Austria
Wales top Group 1 for Christmas after a 1-0 victory in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Kayleigh Green’s 58th-minute goals was the difference between the sides, not forgetting Laura O’Sullivan’s 83rd-minute penalty save.
England eventually put five past Kazakhstan in recording a third win from three. Mel Lawley’s goal was all the separated the sides until Fran Kirby’s penalty on 64 minutes. Nikita Parris then hit a six-minute brace and Izzy Christiansen completed the scoring.
Switzerland’s fourth win was Albania’s fifth defeat, despite an equaliser from the visitors. Florijana Ismaili’s opening goal brought a reply from Quendresa Krasniqi but Ramona Bachmann gave the Swiss an interval lead. Rahel Kiwic put them 3-1 up with 17 minutes to go, Viola Calligaris got the fourth and then Ismaili doubled her own tally.
Netherlands and Republic of Ireland are neck and neck at the top of Group 3, after the Dutch were frustrated by the Irish in a goalless draw. A sell-out crowd witnessed 32 efforts at goal from the hosts compared with Ireland’s three.
Northern Ireland came from behind and away from home, to get their first points on the board. Vojteková gave Slovakia the lead but Julie Nelson levelled before half-time, Rachel Furness gave the Irish a 2-1 advantage on 52 minutes and Caragh Milligan completed the scoring just after the hour mark.
Italy took a 100% record to Portugal and Daniela Sabatino’s goal on 37 minutes proved to be the only one of the game.
Romania got off the mark at the fourth attempt in Group 6, seeing off Moldova 3-1 after the visitors had levelled. Andreea Voicu had the hosts ahead at the break and although Eugenia Miron equalised, Voicu immediately got her second and within 8 minutes Miron conceded an own-goal.
Finland have won both their Group 7 games after sending Israel to a fourth straight defeat, with four goals coming in a remarkable 15-minute spell straddling the break. Kaisa Collin opened the scoring, Linda Sällström neting either side of an Emmi Alanen effort.
Spain won the top of the table clash with Austria to go three points clear with as many wins in a row. Alexia Putellas and Patricia Guijarro scored in the first 16 minutes and Irene Paredes got a third shortly before half-time. Virginia Torrecilla made it 4-0 with over half an hour still to play.
