Ellen White became the Lionesses’ top goal-scorer as England beat Latvia 20-0 in a World Cup qualifier played in Doncaster. It’s England’s biggest-ever victory on the international stage at any level in either men’s or women’s football.
Sarina Wiegman’s players lead in Group D of the European Qualifiers for the 2023 final tournament hosted by Australia and New Zealand. After six games, England has the maximum number of points, 18, having scored 53 goals without conceding any. Austria is second with 13 points, surpassing Northern Ireland only on goal difference.
In October, England won 10-0 against Latvia in their away game in Riga. Latvia is last in the group with zero points from five games. They’ve only scored two goals while conceding 46.
White’s hat-trick puts her ahead of Kelly Smith
Thanks to the three goals she scored against Latvia, White became England’s top goal-scorer, beating Kelly Smith’s previous record of 46 goals. White started the match in Doncaster on 45 goals, but a brace inside the first 10 minutes of the game quickly put the Manchester City forward ahead of Smith. The 32-year-old played her 101st game for England, with her first goal for the Lionesses coming 11 years ago in a 3-0 England win over Austria.
White is second on the list of leading goalscorers in the English Women’s Super League, netting 58 times during spells at Arsenal, Notts County, Birmingham, and Manchester City.
“I’m very proud of Ellen White, she’s having a tremendous career,” Sarina Wiegman said after the match. “This was such a team performance, we kept going. The opponent wasn’t very good, but you have to make the game yourself,” the England head coach remarked.
“I actually felt really emotional about the record. It’s been spoken about for a long time and yeah, I feel very proud,” White confessed. “I feel really proud of the girls tonight. Some of them scored their first goals for England,” she added.
The 20-0 thrashing of Latvia was England’s last showing in 2021. Their next qualification matches will see them travel to North Macedonia and Northern Ireland in April.
