England Women claimed a 3-1 victory away to Greece in the World Cup Qualifiers Play-off Semi-final first leg played in Crete.
Maya Le Tissier saw her 25-yard strike tipped over the bar by Fafailia Petaloti, and Lauren James found the net from outside the box but was given offside.
A Lauren Hemp shot was inches wide of the far post, before Ioanna Papatheodorou hit the frame of Hannah Hampton’s goal from distance.
Georgia Stanway slotted the Lionesses ahead late in the first half, having been played in by Alessia Russo’s touch from a pass by Laura Blindkilde Brown.
Sarina Wiegman’s side was in control following two quick goals after the hour mark, as Keira Walsh set up Maya Le Tissier to score and Beth Mead’s cutback was buried by Russo.
With a dozen minutes left of the 90, Kallisti Brouksair fired into the far corner to get a goal back for the hosts.
Jess Park smashed the ball against the crossbar, but there was an offside anyway.
The second leg is at Leicester City on Tuesday 13 October, with the eventual winners to play the victors of the tie between Ukraine and Slovakia.
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