Georgia Stanway scored a hat-trick as England Women’s U17s completed their first round of Euro qualifiers with a comfortable win over Russia.
John Griffiths’ side had already qualified for the next stage following emphatic victories over Moldova (9-0) and host nation Bulgaria (5-0).
And they ensured a perfect end to the campaign with another impressive display.
Russia 1-4 England
UEFA Women's U17 Championship
First Qualifying Round
Friday 31 October
Albena, Bulgaria
Chloe Kelly broke the deadlock after just six minutes and Stanway doubled this lead just before the half-hour mark.
Anastasiya Shvedova halved the deficit from the spot, but Stanway reasserted the Young Lions’ dominance midway through the second half – before sealing another three points with her treble strike in added time.
Both England and Russia advanced to the Elite Qualifying Round which takes place next spring and Griffiths’ charges will be among the top seeds when the draw is made on Wednesday 19 November.
The Euro Finals will be staged in Iceland next summer.
England: 1 Sian Rogers, 2 Anna Patten, 4 Chloe Peplow, 6 Megan Finnigan, 8 Alessia Russo, 9 Chloe Kelly, 12 Danielle Brown, 15 Grace Fisk (C), 16 Georgia Allen, 17 Georgia Stanway, 18 Zoe Cross.
Substitutes: 5 Lucy Parker for Fisk (72), 11 Mahlah Catline for Allen (60), 7 Kess Elmore for Cross (80+2)
Substitutes not used: 13 Alexandra MacIver, 3 Mayumi Pacheco, 10 Hannah Cain , 14 Ashleigh Plumptre.
Goals: Kelly (6), Stanway (27, 66, 80+5)
Coach: John Griffiths
Russia: 21 Anzhelika Ivanova, 5 Olga Voloshina (C), 6 Valeriya Zarubina, 7 Polina Zhurkova, 8 Polina Drozdova, 10 Anastasiya Shvedova, 13 Valeriya Bespalikova, 14 Mariya Alekseeva, 15 Elena Sinitsyna, 19 Aleksandra Trikina, 23 Veronika Kuropatkina.
Substitutes: 22 Alina Likhota for Bespalikova (68), 17 Daria Yakovleva for Alekseeva (80+2)
Substitutes not used: 1 Natalya Stanovova, 12 Diana Ponomareva, 4 Aida Medvedeva, 16 Elena Shesterneva.
Goals: Shvedova (Pen 32)
Coach: Viktor Papaev
Referee: Silvia Domingos (POR)
