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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Katie Sands

Faroe Islands 0-6 Wales Women: Jayne Ludlow's side pull off perfect start to Euro 2021 qualifiers

Wales have enjoyed the perfect start to their Euro 2021 qualification campaign with a 6-0 demolition of the Faroe Islands.

On the same day she was announced as Reading Women's new captain, Natasha Harding was on stellar form as she eventually pulled in a hat-trick for Wales, while also assisting an own goal from the Faroe Islands.

, 15, made it from the bench late in the second half to pick up her first senior Wales cap, while Angharad James was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet.

Jayne Ludlow's side headed to Torsvollur for the first competitive game since narrowly missing out on World Cup qualification last August, where Harding ensured she was first on the scoresheet less than five minutes in with a header.

At six minutes, Wales' lead was doubled thanks to a first international goal from Emma Jones.

Wales had a chance to get an early third goal after Harding was brought down, but Kayleigh Green sent a penalty high over the crossbar.

Into the second half, goalkeeper Laura O'Sullivan recovered well from one of the few threats from the Faroes - via striker Ansy Sevdal - albeit materialising from a careless pass inside the area.

A dominant, fluid Wales side were awarded their second spot-kick after a Lív Arge tug on Green, with Harding notching up her second goal of the game with a cool, composed execution as she converted the penalty at 57 minutes into the bottom corner.

And, although she won't be able to claim all the credit for Wales' fourth goal, Harding's low cross was slotted into the Faroes' own net by their own Durita Hummeland, before a third, rather fortunate, goal for the Reading trickster on 79 minutes, slotting the ball over the goalkeeper with a cross.

Just when you thought Wales had had enough fun for one day, Rhiannon Roberts makes it 6-0 in injury time, heading in to the net at the back post.

From a side that struggled to score goals during their last campaign, Wales looked dominant, relaxed and bolder than we have seen in recent outings, but won't be getting carried away.

Northern Ireland will surely be preparing a rock-solid plan to keep Harding at bay ahead of Wales' first home game on Tuesday, September 3, at Newport's Rodney Parade (7.05pm kick-off).

Wales

1 Laura O'Sullivan, 2 Loren Dykes, 3 Gemma Evans, 4 Sophie Ingle (capt), 5 Rhiannon Roberts, 6 Elise Hughes (46' Josie Green), 7 Emma Jones (82' Carrie Jones), 8 Angharad James, 9 Kayleigh Green (74' Megan Wynne), 10 Natasha Harding, 11 Hayley Ladd

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