Ebony Salmon scored a hat-trick as England romped to a 4-0 victory over Italy to book their place in the semi-finals of the UEFA Women’s U17s Championship.
After drawing with Poland and losing to Spain last week, the Young Lionesses knew they had to beat Italy in their final group game, but also hope Poland failed to beat Spain.
Spain, who topped Group B, upheld their end of the bargain with a 5-0 drubbing of their opponents.
John Griffiths’s England side were made to wait until the second half before their own goal blitz arrived.
Aston Villa attacker Salmon broke the deadlock seven minutes after the restart and registered two more goals by the 65th minute to take her tournament tally to four.
Annabel Blanchard completed the scoring on 72.
England now face holders Germany in the semi-final on Friday 18 May.
England (4-3-3): 1 Kayla Rendell (Southampton); 7 Simran Jhamat (Liverpool), 6 Abbie Roberts (MK Dons), 15 Lucy Roberts (Liverpool), 3 Phoebe Williams (Southampton); 16 Missy Bo Kearns, 14 Paris McKenzie (Birmingham City), 19 Hannah Griffin (FC Saarbrucken); 10 Annabel Blanchard (Liverpool), 9 Ebony Salmon (capt; Aston Villa), 18 Jess Park (Manchester City).
Substitutes: 12 Asmita Ale (Aston Villa) for Williams 52, 2 Emma Brown (Teesside RTC) for Jhamat 63, 17 Paige Bailey-Gayle (Arsenal) for Salmon 68.
Substitutes not used: 22 Fran Bentley (Manchester City), 5 Lia Cataldo (Arsenal), 4 Katie Bradley (Manchester City), 8 Ava Kuyken (Arsenal), 11 Libby Smith (Chelsea), 20 Jess Woolley (Bristol City).
Goals: Salmon 47, 63, 65, Blanchard 72
Head coach: John Griffiths
