City duo help England to emphatic Ukraine win | OneFootball

Lauren Hemp and Laura Blindkilde Brown helped England begin their 2027 World Cup qualifying campaign with a 6-1 win over Ukraine.

Both players started in Turkey, with Hemp setting up Alessia Russo for her nation’s second on the night before winning a penalty for England’s third.

Alex Greenwood, meanwhile, was ruled out with a minor muscle injury in the build-up to the game and will continue to be assessed ahead of Saturday’s fixture against Iceland.

After a goalless first half, England kicked into action just two minutes into the second 45 when Russo struck, with the Arsenal forward doubling her tally soon after when meeting Hemp’s cutback with a first-time finish.

Hemp continued to cause Ukraine problems when she burst into the box and was caught just after the hour, with Georgia Stanway firing home from the spot for three.

That goal restored the European champions’ two-goal lead after Ukraine had found the net through Yana Kalinina with virtually their first attack of the game, with a further Stanway strike and brace from Jess Park setting the seal on a dominant League A Group 3 win.

England face Iceland in their second qualifier, with kick-off at Wembley Stadium set for 12:30 (UK) on Saturday 7 March.

Germany also got their World Cup qualifying campaign off to a flying start, with Rebecca Knaak helping her nation to a 5-0 win over Slovenia.

The 2022 finalists cruised into a two-goal lead at half-time through Vivien Endemann and Elisa Senß, with Linda Dallmann, Larissa Muhlhaus and Lea Schuller adding further gloss to the scoreline after the break.

Knaak and co. are back in action on Saturday 7 March, taking on Norway at 17:00.

Iman Beney also helped Switzerland to three points in their League B Group 2 opener, as they recorded a 2-0 win over Northern Ireland.

The City youngster played 85 minutes of the victory, as the Euro 2025 quarter-finalists came out on top thanks to Riola Xhemaili’s opener and a stoppage time second from Svenja Folmli.

Kerstin Casparij and Vivianne Miedema had to settle for a point in their Group 2 opener, though, with Poland grabbing a late equaliser to earn a 2-2 draw.

The 2017 champions looked like they’d recovered from Ewa Pajor’s opener when Veerle Buurman and former City midfielder Jill Roord struck either side of half-time, only for Paulina Tomasiak to strike with around five minutes to play.

They’ll be hoping to get back to winning ways when they face Tara O’Hanlon’s Republic of Ireland on Saturday 7 Match at 19:45.

Elsewhere, Sacha Lewis and Lily Murphy helped England’s Under-20s to a 1-0 win over the Netherlands.

Lewis played the full 90 in Alicante, with Murphy introduced as a late substitute as the Young Lionesses bounced back from defeat to Spain, with Chloe Hylton grabbing the game’s only goal.

They’re back in action on Friday 6 March at 11:00 (UK), taking on Mexico in a final clash in Spain.

City v Spurs: Everything to Play For

We’re back in action at the Joie Stadium on Saturday 21 March, when we welcome Tottenham Hotspur for a 12:00 (UK) kick-off.

City sit top of the WSL table with just six matches remaining, boasting a 100% record on home soil, but that’ll be put to the test against the visitors.

Indeed, Spurs still hold faint hopes of European qualification and have lost just once on the road in 2026, even winning their last away fixture in the WSL 7-3 at Aston Villa.

It all points towards another thrilling clash at the Joie Stadium. Seated tickets available from just £15 for adults and £6 for Under-16s, with standing tickets on sale for just £13 for adults or £5 for Under-16s.

Don’t miss out as City’s push for the WSL title continues!

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