Scotland Women thrash Cyprus 10-0 in Euro qualifier

Scotland Women recorded one of their biggest-ever wins on Friday as they dismantled Cyprus with a 10-0 mauling.

Former boss Shelley Kerr left the dugout in December after failing to secure a spot in the 2022 European Championships. Stuart McLaren was named as her successor last month, with his first game in charge coming with a trip to Cyprus.

It could have hardly been easier for McLaren's side, who were ahead after just 11 minutes when Chelsea's Erin Cuthbert tapped home Kirsty Hanson's cross, but things were only just getting started at that point.

Martha Thomas' header extended Scotland's lead, before Caroline Weir lived up to her reputation of only scoring worldies by finishing off an excellent solo effort with just 26 minutes on the clock. Was it as nice as her recent strike against Manchester United? I'll leave that up to you.

Cuthbert and Hanson switched roles for the fourth, before the United forward again turned provider as the excellent Cuthbert stabbed home Scotland's fifth and final goal of the first half.

With the tie quite clearly over, the tempo dropped after the break, but Cuthbert was again her side's catalyst as she sent in a delicious cross which was volleyed home by Lizzie Arnot to get proceedings going again in the second half.

Claire Emslie came off the bench to get in on the fun, after which fellow substitute Jane Ross won and converted a penalty to put Scotland 8-0 up with 20 minutes left on the clock.

The Cyprus players had barely even caught their breath by the time it was 9-0. Martha Thomas netted just one minute after the Ross penalty, and the 31-year-old made it ten three minutes after that, finishing off a particularly brutal four minutes for Cyprus.

It could have easily been more for Scotland, who saw a handful of fantastic late chances go to waste, but nothing could dampen what was undoubtedly one of the finest performances in recent team history.

McLaren will know that his side will face a tougher test on Tuesday in the final qualification game against Portugal, who are vying with Finland for the top spot in Group E.

For more from ​Tom Gott, follow him on ​Twitter!