#FIFAWWC2023 Qualifiers: Portugal Women take top spot from Germany | OneFootball

Carolina Mendes celebrates one of her three goals for Portugal against Israel. (Jessica Santana/Sports Press Photo)

Portugal leapfrog Germany while Denmark, Spain, Sweden and Russia all extend winning runs in FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers.

Group A – Republic of Ireland 1-1 Slovakia, Sweden 2-1 Finland

Sweden saw off Iceland with Hurtig’s goal ten minutes from time, to make it four wins from four. Fridolina Rolfö’s opener had earlier been cancelled out by Linda Sällström in the first half.

Martina Šurnovská opened the scoring early in the second half for Slovakia but Katie McCabe rescued a point for the Republic of Ireland with her 65th-minute effort. Both sides are now two points behind the second-placed Finns, Ireland with a game in hand.

Group B – Spain 12-0 Faroe Islands

Esther Gonzalez netted four and Mariona Caldentey three times as Spain put a dozen goals past the Faroe Islands, to make it four wins in a row and moved them three points clear of Scotland.

Group D – North Macedonia 0-11 Northern Ireland

Simone Magill scored four and Rachel Furness a record-equalling hat-trick as Northern Ireland brushed aside their hosts.

Group E – Azerbaijan 0-4 Russia, Bosnia & Herzegovina 0-3 Denmark

Kathrine Møller Kühl took only seconds to give Denmark the lead in Bosnia & Herzegovina, Signe Bruun made it 2-0 inside quarter of an hour but it was late on when Emma Snerle completed the scoring in the Danes’ fifth straight win.

Russia have won all their four games to date and were three up at the break in Azerbaijan, before adding a fourth in added time.

Group F – Albania 0-7 Norway, Belgium 19-0 Armenia, Kosovo 1-2 Poland

Norway stayed in pole position with a 7-0 victory in Albania, where Arsenal’s Frida Maanum was twice on target, Chelsea’s Guro Reiten and Manchester United’s Maria Thorisdóttir also among the goals.

Tessa Wullaert enjoyed a five-goal haul as Belgium thrashed Armenia 19-0, Tina de Caigny and Amber Tysiak adding a treble each.

Poland had to come from behind to win in Kosovo, Liridona Syla with only the hosts’ second goal in the group,  Karolina Gec and Martyne Wiankowska turning the game around by the break.

Group H – Portugal 4-0 Israel, Serbia 3-0 Bulgaria

Carolina Mendes scored three of Portugal’s four goals against Israel, who later had keeper Amit Beilin sent off. Portugal now lead the group from Germany but have played a game more.

Serbia got off the mark as Jovana Damnjanović bagged a brace in the 3-0 beating if Bulgaria.

McCabe reply gives Republic of Ireland Women draw with Slovakia