SCOTLAND head coach Pedro Martinez Losa praised his players for their hard work in the close season after they turned in a performance which all but guarantees a World Cup play-off place.
His side led by three goals after just 20 minutes and added a fourth before half time to ensure there was no way baWck into the game for Ukraine at the Stadion Miejski in Rzeszow. It was a dispiriting night for Ukraine, who had to play the game in Poland because of the Russian invasion of their country and were desperate to provide their countrymen and women with some cheer.
“At this moment in time we couldn't ask the players for any more,” Martinez Losa said. “Because we beat Ukraine 4-0 people might think they are not a good team, but they are and they have one of the best coaches in the world.
“Every single player gave everything. If we continue performing at this level, and do it for longer periods of time during the game, we won't have to worry about being in the World Cup or major tournaments because we would belong to that level.”
Scotland, who had Caroline Weir and Erin Cuthbert running the game in midfield, have one qualifier remaining, away to the Faroe Islands in September, but it is unlikely they will need the points from that to reach the play-offs. Last night's result put Ukraine out of the running and third place Hungary would need to beat both them and Spain away from home to have any chance of pipping Scotland for second place.
Neither side was holding back in the opening minutes and Scotland had a penalty claim waved away for what looked like a Ukraine hand ball in the box. There were still less than three minutes played when both sides missed great chances to take the lead.
Sam Kerr set up a chance for Martha Thomas, but Ukraine goalkeeper Kateryna Samson smothered the Manchester United player's close range shot. The home side immediately countered and Nicole Kozlova should have done better than fire over the bar from a good position inside the Scotland box.
The opener duly arrived after nine minutes. This time referee Triinu Laos did point to the spot when Claire Emslie was brought down by Kateryna Korsun. Weir took the penalty, and although Samson guessed correctly and dived to her left to get a hand on the ball she couldn't keep it out.
The second goal, eight minutes later, was started and finished by Cuthbert. The Chelsea midfielder passed the ball forward to Thomas and then sprinted 15 yards into the box to take the return and send a low shot past Samson into the corner.
Cuthbert was the provider as a miserable start to the game for Ukraine continued. Her corner was met at the far post by Thomas, who sidefooted the ball home.
It was hard to imagine a worse start for Ukraine, and they lost a fourth goal three minutes from the interval. Once again they were unable to deal with a Cuthbert corner and this time Thomas met it further out with a powerful header across Samson.
Scotland started on the front foot in the second half and Thomas was denied an early chance to make it a hat-trick. Her downward header was saved by Samson at the second attempt.
Thomas, who had scored seven goals in her 13 previous Scotland games, again came close to making it ten in 14 midway through the half when she was set up by Weir, but her low left foot shot was well saved at her near post by Samson.
