Women’s Euro 2017: England Off To Flyer As Jodie Taylor Nets Hat-Trick In 6-0 Thumping Of Scotland (Photos & Video)

Alan Duffy

19th, July 2017

England got their Euro 2017 tournament off to the perfect start after enjoying a thumping 6-0 victory against Scotland in Utrecht, with Arsenal striker Jodie Taylor making a history by becoming the first English woman to net a hat-trick at a major finals.

The Scots were making their first ever appearance at the finals of a big tournament and they started brightly.

However, with just 10 minutes of the game played, England took the lead with Jodie Taylor getting the first of her two goals.

The opener came after a through ball from the superb Lucy Bronze cut open the Scottish backline, leaving an unmarked Taylor to coolly fire past Gemma Fay in the Scotland goal.

England’s second came on 26 minutes, with a brave Taylor cleverly firing home after Scotland failed to clear a free-kick from Jordan Nobbs.

England were well in control now and, just after the hour-mark, they made it 3-0, with Birmingham City striker Ellen White netting after Jill Scott’s fine long-range effort was initially tipped onto the crossbar.

Scotland started the second-half strongly, mustering a couple of efforts on goal.

However, once again it would be England who would find the back of the net, with Jodie White deftly lobbing Fay after a flick-on from Ellen White.

That goal made Taylor the first English woman ever to bag a hat-trick at a major finals tournament and was fair reward for an outstanding centre-forward display.

On the hour-mark, Taylor was given a deserved rest, with Barcelona’s new signing Toni Duggan taking her place.

The Lionesses would cruise for the rest of the second period, with the effervescent Nobbs getting a deserved goal late on, via a fine volley.

There was still time for another England goal, with sub Duggan heading home from close-range.

The game would end 6-0 for England, a result highlighting the gulf in class between the two sides.

England go top of Group D, level on points with their next opponents Spain.

As for Scotland, Sunday’s clash with Portugal is now looking like a must-win game.