England’s women secured their place in the 2015 World Cup finals courtesy of an emphatic 4-0 victory over Wales at Cardiff City Stadium.
Karen Carney, Eniola Aluko, Laura Bassett and Lianne Sanderson were all on target as Mark Sampson’s side kept up their flawless qualifying campaign and made sure of their participation in next year’s tournament in Canada.
After a cagey start, the visitors took the lead in fortuitous circumstances when Carney’s 16th-minute free-kick eluded everyone and found the far corner with home goalkeeper Nicola Davies distracted by the presence of Aluko.
The goal helped settle the visitors and they doubled their advantage six minutes before the interval when Aluko controlled on her chest and blasted an unstoppable volley past Davies from 15 yards.
Any lingering fears that Wales could spoil the party were dashed before the break as England’s attack found their rhythm and netted two further goals that put the result beyond doubt by halfway.
Bassett was next to strike – the Chelsea defender taking advantage of some hesitant Welsh defending to tuck home.
England scored a fourth on the stroke of half-time, when Alex Scott delivered a pinpoint cross and Sanderson rose to crash home a bullet header that left Davies with no chance.
The second half proved relatively uneventful with England happy to keep possession and coast to qualification, although Jodie Taylor should have done better than send a rebound against the post from close range.
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