England took another significant step towards next summer’s World Cup finals on Friday with Fran Kirby’s exquisite playmaking skills defying the Russians’ attempts to kick her and Keira Walsh controlling midfield.
Thanks to two goals from Jill Scott and another from Nikita Parris in Moscow, Phil Neville’s side returned to the top of their qualifying group, two points clear of Wales with two games to go. Considering only the group winners are guaranteed places in the finals – the best second-placed sides enter the play-offs – this was an important win for Neville before the potentially pivotal trip to Wales at the end of August.
When England thrashed Russia 6-0 at Tranmere last September Parris opened the scoring. Relocated to Moscow, the Manchester City striker not only repeated the feat but registered her fifth goal in five World Cup qualifiers.
After temporarily swapping flanks with Toni Duggan, Parris drifted inside, stole in front of her marker and connected with a precise right-wing cross from the Barcelona forward before heading beyond Russia’s goalkeeper, Yulia Grichenko.
The Lionesses have clearly taken to Neville and the former Manchester United and Everton full-back looked pleased with his side’s performance on an awkward artificial surface.
Another header, from Scott this time, doubled England’s advantage. Neville claims that Lucy Bronze could hold her own in the men’s game and the Lyon right-back – captaining the Lionesses in the absence of the injured Steph Houghton – proved she was far too strong for Russia by crossing brilliantly to the far post and picking out Scott’s late dash into the box.
It was becoming almost too easy for Bronze and company which possibly explains why England’s captain momentarily lost concentration and allowed Russia to pull a goal back. After neglecting to clear her lines in the wake of a long throw Bronze failed to prevent a dangerous cross finding Elena Danilova unmarked. If the invitation was unexpected, Danilova had no hesitation in accepting it by rising unchallenged to head beyond the helpless Carly Telford.
That was the first goal England had conceded along the qualifying road to France but Scott’s mobility ensured it did not take them long to restore a two-goal cushion. Walsh has been one of a number of young players introduced by Neville and she vindicated his judgment by finding her Manchester City team-mate with a beautifully weighted through-pass. By way of returning the compliment, Scott, making another clever late run into the area, volleyed her second goal of the match past Grichenko with the outside of her boot.
Despite sporadic tactical tweaking, Russia failed to contain Kirby and her elusive movement between the lines. The Chelsea creator, shifted from attack to a slightly deeper attacking-midfield role under Neville, was frequently minded by Anna Kozhnikova, whose style was cramped when she incurred a booking for sending Kirby crashing on to that unforgiving surface.
From the resultant free-kick Duggan tested Grichenko before making way for Beth Mead and, shortly afterwards, Ellen White was replaced by the similarly dangerous Jodie Taylor. Perhaps deterred by the strength of Neville’s bench, Russia had by now abandoned any early pretence of attacking and, dropping ever deeper, were grimly intent on damage limitation.
Although the hosts belatedly escaped their own half as Telford saved smartly when left one on one against Ekaterina Sochneva, it was far too little too late for a Russian team whose prime ploy of attempting to foul Kirby out of the game appeared to be about the extent of an alarmingly limited game plan. They now travel to Wales on Tuesday with any lingering hopes of qualification all but extinguished.