Greece v England LIVE: Result and reaction from Lionesses’ World Cup play-off

The return leg will be played on Tuesday 13 October at the King Power Stadium in Leicester.

Should the Lionesses hold onto their lead, they will face either Slovakia or Ukraine in their second knockout clash. Ukraine are in the driving seat of that clash, similarly picking up a 3-1 away win.

England dominated Greece in Crete to take control of their 2027 Women’s World Cup play-off tie.

After Lauren James had an earlier lobbed effort ruled out for offside, England eventually found the breakthrough as Georgia Stanway slotted home from a deft Alessia Russo tee-up, giving the Lionesses the lead in what was otherwise a pedestrian first-half display.

They then took full control after the restart as Maya Le Tissier and Alessia Russo fired home two in the space of four minutes, putting the match and perhaps the tie to bed.

However, Greece were given a semblance of hope 12 minutes from time when Kallisti Brouksair finished off a brilliant counter-attack, the hosts taking one of their rare opportunities to reduce the deficit.

So nearly the perfect ending! Beth Mead misses an absolute sitter with the last kick of the game!

It could have been four but the whistle blows with England nevertheless in complete control of their play-off tie.

90+3 mins: Good low cross in from Parkinson but Greece manage to scramble it clear. Flag goes up after the ball is cleared.

England pressing strong until the last whistle.

90+1 mins: Four added minutes – could we see another goal?

Wiegman has brought on Grace Fisk for Esme Morgan at the back, fresh legs to ensure there are no more breaches at the England end.

90 mins: OFF THE BAR! Park charges down on goal and fires a rocket off the underside of the crossbar!

No goal-line technology to determine whether it crossed the line – it looked like it might have – but she was well offside either way.

89 mins: Parkinson straight into things with the high press, nicking the ball and leaving a Greece player on the deck needing treatment.

Greece have used all five subs so will be playing the next minute or so with 10.

87 mins: Diving header from Beth Mead loops over the bar. That would have been some goal.

Here are those Greece changes. Papatheodorou, who hit the bar from range in the first half, makes way for Pouliou, while Sarri is replaced by Tzourtzevits.