England 5 N Ireland 0: Alessia Russo’s rapid double fires red-hot Lionesses into Euros quarters with 100 per cent record
ENGLAND’S juggernauts delivered the perfect get-well present for their boss with a gritty 5-0 trouncing of Northern Ireland.
Alessia Russo bagged a dream brace as the hosts broke the resistance of Kenny Shiels’ stubborn underdogs with keeper Jackie Burns having the game of her life.
The result saw the Lionesses claim a hat-trick of group stage wins with assistant coach Arjan Veurink watching from om with Sarina Wiegman absent after testing positive for Covid.
The team will face either Spain or Denmark in a mouth-watering quarter-final duel at the Amex with their rivals facing off at 8:00pm on Saturday.
After the record-breaking, merciless 8-0 rinsing of Norway, some watchers will have been expecting more of the same from Wiegman’s warriors.
But Shiels and his plucky team of history-makers – including players juggling football with jobs in retail and nursing – had other ideas.
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As early as the first minute Northern Ireland, who were already out of the Euros, started as if they ended to exit with a bang.
Lauren Wade, who once balanced her football career with a director’s job in her family’s funeral business, forced a first-minute save from Mary Earps with a low shot.
Moments later England thought they had a pen after Georgia Stanway’s strike struck Demi Vance’s arm, before referee Esther Staubli overturned the decision following a VAR check.
Keeper Burns pulled off a string of quality saves in the first including a ninth-minute stop with her leg from Georgia Stanway’s shot.
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Later Ellen White came close to giving the hosts the lead before her effort rolled inches wide.
Lucy Bronze almost headed England in front following a Beth Mead cross before Wade fired the ball into the side netting after a Northern Ireland counter.
But England eventually broke the deadlock with Fran Kirby classy top corner strike in the 40th minute.
And golden girl Mead made it two walloping in her fifth goal of the Euros close to half-time.
The second spell saw Verurink make a triple substitution with Ella Toone, Alessia Russo and Alex Greenwood coming on for Georgia Stanway, Ellen White and Millie Bright.
Super sub took literally minutes to make her guiding a header home after a curled delivery from Mead.
The Man United striker bagged her brace in the 52nd minute latching on to a pass from Toone before spinning and firing the ball home.
An effort that saw her nab seventh goal in 10 England appearances.
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Mead’s late strike took an unfortunate deflection of substitute Kelsie Burrows as the hosts wrapped up a 5-0 win.
The result saw them finish top with group A and 16 games unbeaten under Wiegman.