Women's Euro 2021 qualifier: Wales ease to victory over Faroe Islands
- Published
Highlights: Faroe Islands 0-6 Wales
Wales kicked off their Euro 2021 qualifying campaign in style by thrashing the Faroe Islands 6-0 in Torshavn thanks to a hat-trick from Natasha Harding.
The forward headed Wales in front after six minutes before Emma Jones fired in her first Wales goal 90 seconds later.
Harding converted a penalty before Durita Hummeland scored an own goal.
A fine lob completed Harding's hat-trick before Rhiannon Roberts headed home a sixth.
This contest represented an ideal chance for Wales to make a flying start in Group C against an entirely amateur side, coming at a good time with Wales without key midfield duo Jess Fishlock and Rachel Rowe due to knee ligament injuries.
Record scorer Helen Ward, whose calf strain meant she was only fit enough for the bench was a further absentee, but it didn't stop Wales making a flying start despite historically struggling to break down defensive sides.
Green had already spurned a golden opportunity, heading wide from six yards, before Harding connected perfectly with a cross from Roberts to head Wales ahead on five minutes.
They doubled their advantage within 90 seconds as Lewes forward Jones found space and fired under goalkeeper Anna Hansen.
Hansen's misjudgement saw her clip Harding's heels as she raced clear on the half hour mark, but Kayleigh Green blasted the penalty over the crossbar.
Hat-trick was special - Wales' Harding
The missed penalty could have given the hosts a route back into the game, but Heidi Sevdal failed to foil Laura O'Sullivan when she went clean through ten minutes after the interval and within a minute Wales made it three as Harding scored from the spot after Green was dragged back.
On the day she was announced as Reading's new captain, Harding was in superb form and from her cross Hummeland turned the ball into her own net to make it 4-0.
The goal of the game came with 10 minutes remaining when Harding produced a stunning lob from an almost impossible angle as Wales warmed up for the visit of Northern Ireland on Tuesday with an ideal first result, even adding a sixth deep into added on time when Roberts' looping header crept home.
There was also a significant moment for Carrie Jones, the 15-year-old who is not yet eligible to play for her club Cardiff City but earned her first international cap when she came on with 10 minutes remaining.
"It was a dream for me, the girls did really well to get the scoreline really high and then luckily I got game time to go on the pitch, so I was over the moon," Jones told BBC Sport Wales.
"It is a perfect start for us. It is always good to get the group kicked off with three points.
"I am sure my parents would have been watching and shouting at the TV!"