Scotland Women 9-0 Faroe Islands Women

Leanne Crichton (right) is hailed by her team-mates after making it 7-0 to Scotland

Scotland secured a World Cup play-off spot for the first time with a resounding victory over Faroe Islands.

Three early strikes by Kim Little, Caroline Weir and Jane Ross meant the tie was effectively over by half-time.

Ross and Rachel Corsie scored second-half doubles and Leanne Crichton and Jenny Beattie each shot home.

Scotland travel to Gothenburg to take on Pia Sundhage's table-topping Sweden on Wednesday with hopes of clinching the automatic qualifying spot.

The hosts would have been confident of victory as they took to the pitch to face a team they defeated 7-2 last September.

Their opponents, in stark contrast, went into the clash having gathered only two points in the campaign.

From the off, Scotland started the brighter, eager to exert their authority on proceedings with pressure coming through the likes of Hayley Lauder.

And that paid dividends when they took an early lead through Seattle Reign star Little.

After good work, Lauder found the attacker who coolly side-footed into the net, easing home nerves.

That goal served to whet the appetite of the Scots with Weir looking lively as her team penned their opponents in their own half.

And she got her reward after capitalising on a fine team move to send home from close range.

Jon Pauli Olsen's side seemed stunned by the ferocity of the onslaught and, unable to get a foothold in the match themselves, were three down inside the first 11 minutes when Ross, Scotland's top scorer of the campaign, added to her tally.

Ross celebrates scoring her third hat-trick of the World Cup qualifying campaign

With the Faroes unable to get up the park, goalkeeper Gemma Fay was nothing but a spectator and, despite Heidi Sevdal's best efforts, they could not find a rhythm.

Frankie Fantom-Brown, the tormentor on the wing, was providing much of the fuel for Scotland, and she sent in a teasing cross for Ross but the effort was well saved.

Scotland continued to zip the ball around with ease, making life difficult for skipper Malena Josephsen and her back line.

As the Faroes struggled to stem the tidal wave, Ross was hungry for more and she sent over a dipping effort that looked goalbound but which whistled wide at the last.

After the re-start, the dominant hosts' weary opponents were soon under pressure again as busy Ross netted once more, from Lauder's cross, after leaping on a Fridrun Danielsen error and, six minutes later, the Vittsjo GIK forward secured her third hat-trick of the campaign.

Just as the fans had stopped celebrating there was another close call as Little fed Lauder who slotted a pass that was begging for conversion but neither Jo Love or Ross could get a touch.

The travelling side began to see more of the play, and gave a scare of their own, as Sevdal managed to storm up the pitch and get away from the Scottish defence, but her shot was palmed away by Fay.

Scotland had reason to cheer again when goalscorer turned provider as a sublime Ross delivery gifted a tap-in for Corsie to make it 6-0 and they were soon back for more, courtesy of a wonderful strike by Crichton.

Despite being under pressure from the defenders, she pulled the trigger from distance to leave Randi Wardum watching the ball sail past her for a seventh time.

Emma Mitchell's positive movement enabled another opening for Corsie and she made no mistake getting her second of the night.

As the efforts streamed in, Arsenal's Christie Murray got in on the act but this time it was not to be as her strike battered the woodwork.

With time nearly up, Faroe Islands, constantly under the cosh and without showing much promise of their own, must have thought their agony was over but a 20-yard screamer from Beattie rounded off a magnificent evening for Anna Signeul and her players.