England swiftly took back the FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Group 1 top spot from Wales with a 3-1 victory over Russia in Moscow.
The Lionesses were ahead midway through the first half, Toni Duggan crossing and Nikita Parris finding space in the six-yard box to head firmly home.
It was 2-0 just 5 minutes later and in a similar fashion, Lucy Bronze with the delivery from the right and Jill Scott connecting with a stooping header.
However, the hosts were gifted a way back into the game on 31 minutes, Bronze with a loose touch and the cross in finding the head of an unmarked Elena Danilova to nod into the far corner.
The fourth goal in a 15-minute period saw Scott restore the two-goal cushion with a glancing volley from Keira Walsh’s ball into the box.
In the second half there was no addition to the score but Duggan had an effort blocked by the keeper’s legs and also an angled drive wide of the far post.
Ellen White was off-target with a diving header and Kirby’s drive was spilled with Jodie Taylor penalised for challenging for the loose ball.
Ekaterina Sochneva broke clear in the last minute but Carly Telford gathered her shot at the second attempt and Russia put in a couple of dangerous cross in added time but Abbie McManus and Millie Bright made important defensive headers.
Russia: 21 Yulia Grichenko, 2 Anastasiya Akimova, 3 Anna Kohnikova(C), 7 Irina Podshibyakina, 10 Nadezhda Smirnova, 13 Anna Belomyttseva, 15 Elena Danilova (11 Ekaterina Sochneva, 80mins), 16 Lipa Yakupova, 17 Ekaterina Pantyukhina (22 Nelli Korovkina, 72mins), 18 Elvira Ziyastinova, 23 Elena Morozova
Unused subs: 1 Elvira Todua, 5 Ekaterina Bratko, 8 Alsu Abdullina, 19 Nadezhda Koltakova, 20 Margarita Chernomyrdina
England: 1 Carly Telford, 2 Lucy Bronze, 3 Rachel Daly, 6 Millie Bright, 5 Abbie McManus, 4 Keira Walsh (14 Leah Williamson, 84mins), 7 Nikita Parris, 8 Jill Scott, 9 Ellen White (18 Jodie Taylor, 67mins), 10 Fran Kirby, 11 Toni Duggan (16 Beth Mead, 62mins)
Unused subs: 13 Karen Bardsley, 19 Melissa Lawley, 15 Lauren Bruton, 12 Hannah Blundell
