While Denmark just avoided a home defeat to bottom of the table Croatia, Sweden were beating Ukraine to open up a two-point lead at the top of their FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying group.
Group 4 – Sweden end Ukraine hopes as Denmark stumble
Sweden moved 2 points clear of Denmark as their 3-0 win over Ukraine ended their visitors qualification hopes, while the Danes dropped points at home to Croatia.
Elin Rubensson and Chelsea’s Magda Ericsson scored in a four-minute spell after the half-hour mark and Kosovare Asllani completed the scoring 6 minutes into the second half.
Although the Swedes are in pole position and only need a point for automatic qualification, they do face a showdown away to Denmark on Tuesday.
Denmark captain Pernille Harder may have been announced as UEFA Women’s Player of the Year on Thursday evening but she was unable to lead her national side to victory over lowly Croatia.
The Croatians were threatening a first win in their last group game after Izabela Lojna putting them ahead with half an hour to go.
Manchester City’s Nadia Nadim rescued the home side a draw with a goal 2 minutes into added time.
Group 2 – Scotland beat leaders Switzerland
A frantic start at St Mirren saw Scotland race into a two-goal lead in just 6 minutes, as both Erin Cuthbert and Kim Little found the net.
That very briefly put the Scots into first place but Lara Dickenmann replied moments later, as the Swiss narrowly held onto the group leadership on goal-difference despite the 2-1 defeat.
While the Swiss go to Poland on 4th September, Scotland are away in Albania.
Group 1 – Russia secure third place
Marina Fedorova gave Russia an early lead over Kazakhstan, with Nadezhda Smirnova then scoring just before the break and again by the hour mark for a 3-0 result.
With one game to go, Russia are 6 points behind England, while Kazakhstan are bottom on goal-difference ahead of their match with the Lionesses.
Group 6 – Portugal seven up
Third is the best Portugal can hope for in their group now but they did run out 7-0 victors at winless Moldova.
Carolina Mendes opened the scoring on 21 minutes, with Andreia Norton and a quickfire brace by Vanessa Marques taking the lead to 4-0 before the interval.
Three goals in a six-minute spell followed at the end of the match, with two from Diana Silva and the other by Fátima Pinto.
