Scotland will tackle Finland for a spot at Euro 2025 after thrashing Hungary 4-0 within the second leg of their play-off at Easter Street.
Erin Cuthbert, Caroline Weir and Martha Thomas have been all on course following an early personal objective from visiting goalkeeper Lauren Brzykcy to safe a 5-0 combination success.
Finland, who beat the Scots in a penalty shoot-out within the Pinatar Cup in February, had earlier overwhelmed Montenegro 5-0 within the second leg for a 6-0 combination win.
The 2 groups will face off on November 27 and December 3 for a berth on the European Championship in Switzerland subsequent 12 months.
Scotland head coach Pedro Martinez Losa had claimed there was “no way” his aspect would lose at residence following a 1-0 win within the first leg in Budapest.
And though the Spaniard later tried to minimize his bullish prediction, he was by no means at risk of getting to eat his phrases as Scotland overcame a nervy begin to take a step nearer to a primary look within the Euros since 2017.
Martinez Losa made two adjustments to the beginning XI from Friday’s first leg, with Eartha Cumings changing Lee Gibson in objective and Kirsty Smith beginning instead of Kirsty Hanson, who dropped to the bench.
Hungary, who introduced in Emoke Papai for Zsanett Kajan up entrance, made the brighter begin however Scotland quickly started to realize management, with Cuthbert dragging a shot extensive of the goal and Weir’s left-foot volley nicely blocked by the guests’ defence.
Weir ought to have opened the scoring from the ensuing nook routine as she span away from her marker to search out loads of area simply 12 yards out, solely to scuff her shot extensive.
The house followers didn’t have to attend lengthy to rejoice nonetheless, Lisa Evans racing to the byline and slicing the ball again for Sam Kerr, whose shot hit the underside of the bar and bounced down on to the again of Brzykcy’s leg and into the web.
Brzykcy comfortably gathered a back-post header from Evans within the twenty fifth minute however may do little about Scotland’s second objective simply after the half hour, Cuthbert’s well-struck shot from outdoors the realm taking a deflection and looping into the highest nook.
Hungary began the second half as positively as they’d the primary however Weir put the outcome past any faint lingering doubt 10 minutes after the interval, gathering a intelligent flick from Thomas earlier than slotting the ball into the underside nook.
Thomas acquired in on the motion herself 10 minutes later with a pointy end after the ball was deflected into her path to spherical off a seventh win in succession for the house aspect.
In the meantime, Republic of Eire stayed heading in the right direction for his or her first European Championship finals after beating Georgia 3-0 within the second leg of their play-off in Dublin.
Eileen Gleeson’s aspect cruised to a 9-0 combination win after targets from Julie-Ann Russell, Kyra Carusa and captain Katie McCabe on the Tallaght Stadium and can now face Wales in a two-legged play-off closing.
Each matches are set to happen between November 27 and December 3.
Wales beat Slovakia 2-0 after extra-time to safe a 3-2 combination win.
Jess Fishlock opened the scoring within the first half to stage the tie earlier than Kerry Holland fired residence in extra-time, with the objective ultimately given following a VAR verify after initially being dominated out for offside.
An additional-time objective from Lauren Wade earned Northern Eire a 1-0 win on the evening to make sure they progressed 2-1 on combination towards Croatia of their Euro 2025 play-off.
A goalless 90 minutes at Windsor Park adopted a 1-1 attract Zagreb within the first leg earlier than Wade fired into the highest nook from the sting of the field from a nook with simply six minutes remaining to maintain the European Championship dream alive for Tanya Oxtoby’s aspect.
It units up a two-legged tie towards Norway by which they are going to must be at their greatest to upset the chances and remove the 1995 world champions.
