Russo at the double as England put in five-star performance
ALESSIA RUSSO struck twice as England maintained their flawless start to Euro 2022 with a commanding 5-0 win over Northern Ireland at St Mary’s.
The Lionesses have now scored 14 times without reply in their three Group A matches to finish in top spot and will face the runners-up from Group B – either Spain or Denmark – in the quarterfinals.
Northern Ireland started defensively looking to contain already-qualified England, and managed to keep them at bay until the 40th minute when Fran Kirby’s lofted curled strike broke the deadlock.
Beth Mead quickly doubled the host nation’s advantage with her fourth goal of the tournament just before halftime before an impressive England eased further clear after the break in front of 30,785 fans in Southampton.
Russo, having replaced Ellen White at half-time, epitomised the impact substitute role, finding the net twice in quick succession soon after the restart.
England’s fifth and final goal came in unfortunate fashion for Northern Ireland, Kelsie Burrows slicing the ball over goalkeeper Jacqueline Burns and into her own net.
Elsewhere, Nicole Billa dumped twice-champions Norway out of the tournament as Austria booked a quarterfinal clash with Germany.
Billa’s first-half header secured a 1-0 win – the Austrians’ first over the Norwegians – at the AMEX
Stadium on a night when a draw would have been enough to clinch the runners-up spot in Group A.
It was no more than they deserved as Norway failed to bounce back from their 8-0 mauling by England, and they might have lost even more heavily had it not been for the efforts of goalkeeper Guro Pettersen.
Austria were unfortunate not to take a 12th-minute lead when Pettersen fumbled Laura Feiersinger’s shot on to her crossbar before skipper Maren Mjelde scrambled the ball away.
After a disjointed start, Norway gradually eased themselves into the game but were unable to get star striker Ada Hegerberg or Chelsea winger Guro Reiten on the ball often enough to cause any real damage.
It took a solid save from Pettersen to deny Billa 11 minutes before the break, but there was nothing she could do to keep out the Hoffenheim striker’s header from Verena Hanshaw’s 37th-minute cross as the deadlock was finally broken.
The pattern of the first half was largely repeated after the break, with the Austrians looking more likely to add to their lead rather than surrender it.
Pettersen had to save from Barbara Dunst, Billa, Julia Hickelsberger-Fuller and substitute Lisa Makas in quick succession to maintain the single-goal deficit, although opposite number Manuela Zinsberger thwarted Celin Bizet and Hegerberg at the death.