England today began their UEFA Women’s U-19 Championship Group 1 qualifiers with a 9-0 win over Malta, in which Jessica Naz scored three times.
Rehanne Skinner’s side had a devastating 13-minute spell before the break, where they scored four goals through a brace by Aimee Palmer and one each for Esme Beth Morgan and Naz.
Gabriella Ravenscroft made it 5-0 after the hour mark, Naz got two more for her treble, while substitutes Amy Rodgers and Jessica Park also registered.
The Young Lionesses next face host nation Croatia on Thursday 4 October and Slovakia three days later, with all matches being played in Varazdin.
The top two sides in every group plus the two third-placed teams with the best record against the top two in their section will join Spain and France in the elite round draw on Friday 23 November.
Seven teams will eventually qualify to join hosts Scotland in next summer’s finals.
The finals will act as UEFA’s qualifier for the 2020 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
England squad:
Emily Ramsey (Manchester United), Hannah Hampton (Birmingham City), Niamh Cashin (Rider University), Shannon Cooke (Louisiana State University), Esme Morgan (Manchester City), Poppy Pattinson (Bristol City), Georgia Eaton-Collins (University of Florida), Olivia Smith (Oklahoma University), Charlotte Greengrass (Leicester City), Aimee Palmer (Manchester United), Sophia Pharoah (Brighton & Hove Albion), Amy Rodgers (Liverpool), Jessica Naz (Tottenham Hotspur), Kate Wiseman* (University of North Alabama), Sophie Domingo (Leicester City), Lucy Fitzgerald (Millwall Lionesses), Nicole Douglas (Arizona State University), Jessica Park (Manchester City), Gabriella Ravenscroft (Millwall Lionesses), Hannah Griffin (FC Saarbrücken).
* replaced Emily Syme (Yeovil Town)
