IT WAS a case of mission accomplished for Scotland on Saturday as they secured at least a World Cup play-off place with a 9-0 thrashing of the Faroe Islands.

But the Fir Park mauling also increased the admittedly slim chances of Anna Signeul's girls qualifying outright for next year's tournament in Canada.

Their Mission Barely Possible is to beat Europe's third-ranked team Sweden by 3-1 or better in Gothenburg on Wednesday. But at least they have taken away the typically Scottish prospect of matching the result the Swedes got in Motherwell in June only to lose out on goal difference.

"We have now covered all the bases as far as that's concerned," said central defender Rachel Corsie. "We now have a better goal difference than Sweden with just one game to go."

The Notts County player, who scored twice in the rout of the Faroese, continued: "We knew we had to win by a convincing score to give ourselves a better chance of qualifying automatically when we go to Sweden.

"Goal difference could come into play and we would have been disappointed if that had stopped us going through.

"We know it will be a very different game in Gothenburg but our aim was to get the job done against the Faroes. We did that."

Corsie was dropped back from her usual holding midfield role after Ifeoma Dieke was forced to call off before the game.

US-based Kim Little celebrated her 100th cap with the first goal as Scotland raced to a 3-0 lead within 11 minutes. They hit six more after the break, with Jane Ross completing a hat-trick plus Corsie's double and strikes from Caroline Weir, Leanne Crichton and Jenny Beattie.

Corsie added: "We can play with freedom in Sweden.

"Even if we don't qualify automatically we want to come away with a great performance to take into the play-offs.

"We need to appreciate the opportunities we now have. This could become very special."