Fratton Park witnesses goals galore
Fans flocked to Fratton Park to watch England Women tear Turkey apart in a World Cup qualifier.
More than 6,000 were in attendance as Pompey played host to an international goal-fest.
Toni Duggan hit a first half hat-trick, while Ellen White and Eniola Aluko added braces before Natasha Dowie completed the scoring.
England made a dream start, with Duggan scoring twice in the second minute.
She was left in acres of space on both occasions, first to convert Alex Scott’s cross and then to volley home Aluko’s centre seconds later.
Brent Hill’s side kept pushing forward as the visitors struggled to even get out of their own half.
Karen Carney rolled a shot inches past the post before Jordan Nobbs’ free-kick rattled the crossbar.
But Turkey almost pulled a goal back with their first chance midway through the first half, with Leyla Gungor’s long-range effort striking the woodwork.
It was England who added to the scoring on 30 minutes, however, as White raced through on goal and coolly lifted the ball over Fatma Sahin.
And Aluko then stabbed home from close range moments later to put the hosts in cruise control.
Still the goals kept coming, as Duggan took advantage of some static defending to complete her hat-trick on 37 minutes.
White then found space to head home Carney’s cross from the left and make it 6-0 just moments later.
Half Time: England 6 Turkey 0
It did not take long for England to add to their goal tally after the restart, with Aluko heading home White’s cross from just a yard out on 48 minutes.
The hosts were not playing with quite as much urgency, although Duggan was denied a fourth when her drive was deflected over.
And Aluko’s hopes of getting a hat-trick were dashed when she was substituted on 59 minutes.
But it was her replacement Dowie who fired home England’s eighth following good work from Nobbs and Casey Stoney.
Stephanie Houghton probably should have added an extra gloss to the scoreline, but headed wide from close range late on.
Not that it mattered to the crowd, who were quite happy to see just the eight goals on a successful night for England at Fratton Park.
England (4-3-3): Chamberlain; Scott, Bonner, Stoney (c) (Houghton 75), Bronze; Carney (Scott 62), Williams, Nobbs; Aluko (Dowie 59), White, Duggan
Goals: Duggan 2, 2, 37, White 30, 39, Aluko 33, 49, Dowie 75
Subs not used: Brown-Finnis, Asante, Bradley, Moore
Turkey (4-4-1-1): Sahin; Ece, Duman, Erol, Karagenc; Defterli (c), Uraz, Yag (Esen 37 (Deniz 89)), Cinar; Gungor; Yalcin (Iskeceli 69)
Subs not used: Caglar, Yildirim, Gonultas, Kaya
Referee: Olga Zadinova (CZE)
Attendance: 6,293
Photo: The News
Photo: The News