European Women's World Cup Qualifiers Roundup: Ireland, Netherlands, Switzerland and Sweden Among Big Winners

The Republic of Ireland and the Netherlands recorded the biggest wins in the first legs of the Women's European World Cup qualifying play-offs, while Switzerland, England, Scotland, Sweden and Iceland also claimed comfortable victories on Friday night.

The Republic of Ireland thrashed Kazakhstan 8-0 in Astana to take a huge step towards the play-off final. Kyra Carusa scored twice, while Chloe Mustaki, Emily Murphy, Abbie Larkin, Jamie Finn, Shanade Hopcroft and Jessie Stapleton also found the net. Kazakhstan were reduced to 10 players in the 33rd minute when captain Yulia Myasnikova was sent off following a VAR review. Ireland led 5-0 at half-time and added three more goals after the break. The two sides will meet again in Cork on Tuesday.

The Netherlands also enjoyed an 8-0 away win over Hungary, with Victoria Pelova and Lineth Beerensteyn both scoring hat-tricks. Esmee Brugts and Damaris Egurrola added the other goals as the Dutch took firm control of the tie.

England beat Greece 3-1 away from home but missed several chances to build a bigger lead. Georgia Stanway opened the scoring in the 39th minute before Maya Le Tissier and Alessia Russo struck in the second half. Kallisti Brouksair pulled one back for Greece in the 77th minute, leaving England with work to do in Tuesday's return leg in Leicester.

Scotland claimed a 2-0 away win over the Czech Republic thanks to goals from Caroline Weir and Claire Emslie in the second half. The hosts finished with 10 players after Nela Krejcirikova was sent off in the 87th minute. Scotland will look to complete the job in Paisley on Tuesday.

Sweden thrashed Lithuania 5-0, with Felicia Schröder scoring a hat-trick, including a penalty. Stina Blackstenius and Amanda Ilestedt added the other goals to put Sweden in a strong position ahead of the second leg.

Iceland also took a commanding lead after beating Croatia 4-0 away. Arna Eiríksdóttir scored twice, including a stoppage-time goal, while Glódís Viggósdóttir converted a penalty and Hlín Eiríksdóttir also found the net..

Portugal defeated Northern Ireland 4-0 in Larne to leave the hosts facing a difficult task in the return leg. Telma Encarnação scored from the penalty spot before Jéssica Silva doubled the lead and Rebecca Holloway put the ball into her own net. Catarina Amado was sent off in the 64th minute, but Portugal still added a fourth through Fátima Pinto in the 83rd minute. Northern Ireland also finished with 10 players after Cora Chambers was dismissed in stoppage time.

Ukraine came from behind to beat Slovakia 3-1 away. Viktoriia Hiryn gave the visitors an early lead before Mária Šurnovská equalised from the penalty spot just before half-time. Viktoriia Andrukhiv and Taisiia Boychuk scored shortly after the break to put Ukraine in control.

Austria came from behind to beat Kosovo 2-1. Erëleta Memeti put the hosts ahead in the 14th minute, but Lisa Schöffel equalised before half-time. Nicole Billa then scored the winner in the 81st minute.

Norway secured a 2-0 away victory over Romania, with Guro Reiten and Frida Maanum scoring in the first half. The result gives Norway a useful advantage ahead of the return leg.

Finland beat Serbia 3-1 at home. Emma Koivisto and Lotta Lindström scored in the first half to give Finland a two-goal lead. Serbia pulled one back through Valentina Milivojević in the 82nd minute, but Sanni Franssi restored Finland's two-goal advantage late on.

Italy left it late to beat Belarus 2-0, with Martina Piemonte opening the scoring in the 66th minute before Emma Polli added a second in stoppage time.

Belgium edged Poland 1-0 at home, with Elena Dhont scoring in first-half stoppage time to give her side a narrow advantage ahead of the return leg.

Turkey and Slovenia played out a 3-3 draw in an entertaining encounter. Kader Hançar and Sevgi Altunkulak gave Turkey a 2-0 half-time lead, but Slovenia fought back through Nika Kajzba, Manja Kastelec and a late goal from Kajzba. Altunkulak had scored her second of the match in the 75th minute to put Turkey ahead again before Slovenia snatched a stoppage-time equaliser.

Israel lost 7-3 to Switzerland in a high-scoring match. T. Sommer scored a hat-trick for Israel, but Switzerland had five different goal-scoring contributions, including two each from Riola Xhemaili and Leila Kamber. The result gives Switzerland a four-goal advantage heading into the second leg.

Wales beat Albania 1-0 away thanks to an own goal from Ezmiralda Franja in the 21st minute. Wales struggled to create clear chances and were under pressure for long spells, but goalkeeper Safia Middleton-Patel made important saves to protect the lead. The sides meet again in Llanelli on Tuesday, with Wales hoping to move closer to a place in the next play-off round.