HIGHLIGHTS - Ukraine v England - Russo & Stanway Shine! - 2027 World Cup Qualifier

So England enter a World Cup cycle as the Continental champions, which wasn't the case last time round for the 2022 Euros, originally set to be in 2021 until the pandemic. But a World Cup qualifier was the opening game of Serena Vigman's tenure and fast forward what a road it's been for England under the Dutch. Stamway once more wriggles away from the challenge. They're feeding it in Russo, good on the turn and the first save for Samson. I mean this is something that Alessia Russo has added to her game this year. That first touch Seb, you know, plays it into her own path outside of the foot. As England go on the attack again here through Lauren Hemd. Stamway counting Ukraine's half early on here as England try to make a fast start. That ball sent in towards Russo and she can't quite get it on target in the end. Yeah it's a fantastic ball in. Alessia Russo gets up so well. Lovely ball from Georgia Stamway in that moment. You'd want no one else for the ball to fall to. Well that's nicely done and a strike as well. Samson pushing it away and there was Stamway, sharp play from her. Loved that from Georgia Stamway. I'm pretty sure she threw a lovely little nutmeg there as well to get a shot off. Fantastic play from Georgia Stamway. And England may be in here this time. Hemd with a pullback and Keller-Brown. Good chance for her. Go over the line. How close to score your first England goal. First half an hour played in one third of the pitch. Times go short. Park to send it in. Not the worst ball in the world. Another boy with a backheel and it was cleared off the line. Well England can't believe they haven't scored. Do you know what? I actually understand why Lotte Wolvenmoyer did that in that situation. Because it was exactly the way the ball lined up for her to do. I would have done the exact same thing. Here's Hemp and drives through. Hemp. Maisy-Rod Classy just past the post. And it's exactly what I was talking about moments ago, Seb. It's going to take somebody to do a fantastic run like Lauren Hemp just did. Moving inside again. Defensively strong player. But the important thing in the attack here for England. So much time hard at the pitch. And that slipped through. Russo. Tidy feet. Tidy finish. And there is the England breakthrough. And it comes via familiar source. In more ways than one. England carving Ukraine open. Right at the start of the second half. Great finish. Great touch. Lovely composure from Alessia Russo in that moment. I spoke about it in the first half. I didn't feel like England created a lot of opportunities in front of goal. But it was lovely play. Lovely little ball from Kiera Walsh. And I love that Alessia Russo sits down the defender. Doesn't panic in his moment. Look, most players, lovely little chop inside. I like the fact that Serena Beekman has switched the wingers as well. Lauren Hemp going to the right-hand side. Jess Park to the left-hand side. Hemp. Cuts inside. Looks for Russo again. And she tucks that one away as well. What a fast start to this second half for England. And two for Alessia Russo. Brilliant from England. Brilliant from Lauren Hemp. I've just complimented Serena Beekman making that tactical change. And what a genius she is because it's worked. You know, six minutes into this second half. England are tuning up. Alessia Russo's got two goals. And I did say, you know, Alessia is the type of player, you give her the ball, she'll put it in the back of the net. In the first half, there wasn't many opportunities. But I love this. The fact that Lauren Hemp cuts back inside. Plays a lovely little ball into Alessia Russo. Picks her out. And that would have caused a lot of problems for Ukraine because they'd have been thinking the second half, you know, Lauren Hemp will be on the left. Jess Park will be on the right. The Lionesses switched it up. And it's working wonders. Scraps as far as there's a concern at this point. Kalanidze. What a moment for Ukraine. Their first attack of the game. And they score. And you can hear the joy from the players and the staff as well. And Yana Kalanidze, who is a creative force for them, hasn't been able to show it in this game. For the first opportunity. And they take it. Wow, I don't think anybody saw that coming at all. One chance, one opportunity. England don't defend their lines at all. Looks like Esme Morgan just got caught underneath it a little bit. Fair play to Kalanidze because she was exquisite in that moment. Morgan. Sliding into Hemp. Hemp turns. And the penalty's given. So the referee points to the spot. Katarina Kampos. Hemp certainly looked like she was caught. Fell on the ball. And it forced the referee's hand in the end. Yeah, definite penalty all day long. It'll be interesting because it looks like Alessia Russo is going to take it. Georgia Stamway is usually the one. To restore the advantage. And she does. So no mistake from Georgia Stamway yet again from the penalty spot. Morgan. In for Russo. Russo again. Looking for Park. Midfielders love to have a player like Alessia Russo up front. She can turn a bad ball into a good ball. Stamway. Stamway! There's the power. The precision. And two for Georgia Stamway. A standout for England tonight. And it's a fourth for the Lionesses. What a goal. I said Georgia Stamway scores from the penalty spot equally from distance effortlessly. Puts this one in the back of the net. It's such a fantastic strike. I said in the first half I thought she was England's best player. It's been fantastic for Bayern Munich this year as well. Captain in their side at times. Such good play. Exceptional. Keeper's got no chance. Samson's got no chance. Walsh. Slip through. Stamway with a ball across Park. And England now cruising. Five goals scored in the second half. And a commanding advantage. And for Jess Park. Assistance paying off. Brilliant from Georgia Stamway again. Like I said, best player on the pitch for me regardless of her goals. Jess Park makes a fantastic run centrally. I'm happy for Jess Park because I think a big game is needed for her. Tonight. LeBron moving it on. Kendall. Park. She deserves that as well. A player capable of coming up with something special. And another England player who's on a hat-trick now. And for Jess Park. That's the sort of quality, the decisiveness, that Serena Beekman has been looking for from a very, very talented player. What a goal from Jess Park. Exactly what she's been doing this year for Manchester United. Scoring from distance. I love this. Love it. What a strike that is. Wouldn't want anyone else to pick this up in this position. So England pick up their first three points on the road to World Cup qualification. And they did it all in the second half. Six second-half goals to take the game away from Ukraine. Who did get on the score sheet themselves. Brianna Kalanina. But England on the score sheet. Thanks. Two from Alessia Russo. Two from Georgia Stamway. And two from Jess Park. None of them able to complete a hat-trick. But who cares about that? Because England have got the ball rolling and in some style. Thanks to that strong second-half display. And they move on to Iceland next. But the final score in Turkey is Ukraine 1, England 6.