Scotland defeated Bulgaria 8-1 to make it four wins out four in the World Cup Qualifying Campaign.
The visitors opened the scoring against the run of play on 20 minutes through Lilyana Kostova. Scotland responded swiftly when centre half Ifeome Dieke played a high ball into the box which was met by a late run from Kim Little who slotted home to make the score level pegging.
Less than a minute later, Scotland went ahead. Glasgow City’s Leanne Ross made a great run down the right hand side unselfishly and played the ball inside to Pauline Hamill who converted to give the home side the lead they deserved.
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The next 45 minutes belonged to Scotland’s all time top scorer Julie Fleeting who scored four second half goals including a hat-trick of headers. The first came eight minutes after the break when Fleeting got on the end of a Suzanne Grant cross and headed into the bottom corner. Goal number two was an unstoppable header when a Fleeting run met Jenny Beattie’s cross.
Now firing on full cylinders, Scotland went 5-1 ahead, with Suzanne Grant lobbing the keeper from the far corner of the box. Fleeting got her hat trick on 65 minutes, when she turned her marker at the edge of the box and hit an unstoppable shot into the left hand corner of the net.
Kim Little made it 7-1 with a shot from inside the box and Fleeting got number eight when she headed home a left footed cross from substitute Kirsty McBride.
Scotland boss Anna Signuel was thrilled with her team’s performance, “It was an excellent game. I thought we played very well and passed the ball very well. Unfortunately we conceded another goal again and we need to stop that. However to see the team scoring so many goals is excellent. The finishing was very good tonight and we are very happy. I am particularly pleased for Julie Fleeting to score four goals, as she is such an excellent and important player for us.”
Alice Neal, Sportsister
The Woman’s Sports Magazine
Image credit: Lorraine Hill
