Internationals: Mead brace, Scotland qualify

Nine Gunners were in international action on Tuesday.

Scroll down to find out how they got on:

Kim Little scored a stunning first-time volley for Scotland in their 2-1 win over Albania, as they secured automatic qualification to the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Emma Mitchell and Lisa Evans also played the entirety of the fixture.

Little opened the scoring with a thumping right-footed volley into the top left corner, but right on the stroke of half-time, Albania equalised through Megi Doci. Scotland continued to push for a winner, though, and in the 68th minute Jane Ross restored their lead with a powerful header beyond the reach of Viona Rexhepi.

Elsewhere, Beth Mead struck a brace on her full international debut for England, as Phil Neville’s side picked up a 6-0 win over Kazakhstan in Group One. Leah Williamson also made her full debut and played 90 minutes, while Jordan Nobbs was an unused substitute.

Mead broke the deadlock from the penalty spot in the ninth minute, before Rachel Daly doubled their lead before the break. Izzy Christiansen and Lucy Staniforth then scored in the second half, and this was shortly followed by Mead’s second of the afternoon - a cool finish into the bottom right corner. Lucy Bronze rounded off the scoring just three minutes from time with a simple finish at the back post.

Vivianne Miedema found the back of the net in the Netherlands’ disappointing 2-1 defeat to Norway in Group Three. Sari Van Veenendaal, Dominique Bloodworth and Miedema played the entirety of the fixture, while Danielle van de Donk was substituted in the 82nd minute.

It was a nightmare start for the Netherlands after Norway struck twice in the opening 10 minutes through Ingrid Syrstad Engen and Isabell Herlovsen. Miedema would go on to pull one back on the half-hour mark, but despite their best attacking efforts, the Netherlands failed to score again and must now go through the play-off process to gain qualification to the Women’s World Cup.