2015 World Cup qualifier: England 8-0 Turkey
- Published
Toni Duggan scored a 37-minute hat-trick as England thrashed Turkey to continue their perfect start to the 2015 World Cup qualification campaign.
After thumping Belarus 6-0 on Saturday, England made light work of a side ranked 65th in the world as Duggan pounced twice in the first two minutes.
Ellen White scored twice either side of Eniola Aluko's finish and Duggan's third to make it 6-0 at half-time.
Aluko headed in another before substitute Natasha Dowie made it eight.
The result means England, ranked 11th in the world, are top of Group Six and are on course to reach Canada in 2015, which would be their third successive World Cup finals.
It was the team's biggest win since beating Malta by the same scoreline in 2009 and the second of two qualifiers under temporary coach Brent Hills, who took over from former head coach Hope Powell after a dismal European Championship.
The professional nature of his side's performances did no harm to his chances of taking the role on a full-time basis after declaring his interest earlier this month.
And Football Association director Kelly Simmons said at Fratton Park that a new manager would be appointed in "a few weeks", adding that the governing body had received "global and domestic" interest in the role.
England went into the game warning against complacency, but when Duggan scored from an Alex Scott cross within a minute, and then added another after good work by Aluko shortly afterwards, it looked like the hosts would not be under any sustained threat.
In front of a crowd of 6,293, there was an isolated scare for England when Turkey's Leyla Gungor hit the bar after a quick counter-attack.
But with Jordan Nobbs hitting the bar from a free-kick prior to that chance, England built on their lead after 29 minutes as White latched onto Fara Williams's through ball to round goalkeeper Fatma Sahin.
Four minutes later Aluko finished easily from Duggan's cross, the Everton forward grabbing her first England hat-trick by slotting home as Turkey struggled to move the ball out of their own half.
White then headed in Karen Carney's cross to make it 6-0 before the break, the memory of England's nightmare Euro 2013 in Sweden - where they finished bottom of their group - fading further into the distance.
After 49 minutes, Arsenal striker White strolled through a static Turkey defence to set up Aluko for her second.
Liverpool's Dowie came on just before the hour mark and collected fellow substitute Jill Scott's through ball to complete a comfortable night.
England face Wales, who beat Belarus 1-0, in their next qualifier on 26 October when they should have a permanent manager in place.
- Published21 September 2013
- Published21 September 2013
- Published16 September 2013