While England’s senior team were running riot in their World Cup qualifier with a record-breaking 20-0 win over Latvia, the under-23s were enjoying a goal spree of their own with Albion players heavily involved.
Maya Le Tissier and Ellie Brazil both started in an 11-0 victory over Estonia at St George’s Park, while teammate Katie Robinson came off the bench in the second half to follow up her goal against Belgium last month with another. Libby Bance attended an under-19 training camp but Maisie Symonds unable to join her because of illness.
It’s been a busy international break for Albion players with several involved in World Cup qualifiers.
Megan Connolly was on the scoresheet for the Republic of Ireland, scoring the final goal after coming off the bench in an 11-0 win over Georgia in Dublin. Former Albion midfielder Denise O’Sullivan netted a hat-trick as the Girls in Green bounced back from a disappointing 1-1 draw against Slovakia last week, when Connolly played from the start, to move into second place in Group A. Albion goalkeeper Megan Walsh, who was called up for the first time, was on the bench in both games.
Ireland are a point ahead of Finland, who lost 2-1 to group leaders Sweden on Thursday with Albion defender Emma Koivisto playing the entire 90 minutes for the Finns in front of more than 13,000 fans in Gothenburg.
It was a mixed international break for Albion midfielder Kayleigh Green and Wales. Green was on the scoresheet in their 5-0 win over Greece last week but picked up a red card for two bookings in Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat in Guincamp to Group I leaders France, their first defeat of the qualifying campaign. Her second red card of the qualifying suspension will mean she is suspended when the qualifying campaign resumes next year.
Inessa Kaagman was an unused sub in Holland’s 2-2 draw against Czech Republic on Saturday, a game that took place 24 hours later than scheduled because of heavy snow in Ostrava.
South Korea continue their World Cup campaign with an Asian qualification tournament in January. Geummin Lee played in their two friendlies against New Zealand this week, where the hosts won 2-1 in the first match before losing the second on Tuesday 2-0.
Albion are back in WSL action on Sunday 12 December at The People’s Pension Stadium, kick off 12.30pm. Buy your tickets by clicking here.