Page 5 - Womens Soccer Scene Issue No.5 2022-23

Switzerland 2 (Bachmann 45, Humm 120)
Wales 1 (Roberts 19)
Wales were left devastated in the FIFA Women’s World Cup Play-Off Final as Switzerland scored
in the final minute of extra time to book their place in the Finals in Australia and New Zealand next
summer and and break Welsh hearts.
Gemma Grainger’s side would not have qualified automatically with a victory as they would
have gone to a final Inter-Continental play-off match next February - Portugal will now have to take
that route - but it was still an agonising way to lose after a brave defensive effort against quality
opponents.
Wales took the lead through full back Rhiannon Roberts in the 20th minute of the game after
Switzerland were forced into conceding a corner kick. When the Swiss defence failed to clear the
ball, Kayleigh Green headed it down for Roberts. Taking her time, Roberts made sure to put the ball
was slotted into the back of the net.
The goal completely rocked the Swiss team and their fans in Zurich but before the half was
over they composed themselves and found an equaliser.
Having soaked up the pressure, the Welsh defence finally cracked when some lovely passing
play resulted in Ramona Bachmann sending the ball into the top right hand corner from inside the
penalty area.
As the game went on, Switzerland were clearly the dominant force as the extra time period that
Wales played against Bosnia & Herzegovina in the Play-Off semi final started to take it’s toll on
Welsh legs.
A VAR decision led to a penalty being awarded to Switzerland after Rachel Rowe was adjudged
to have handled the ball in the box. However, from the spot, Ana-Marie Crnogorčević missed the
penalty by hitting the post. She netted the rebound but the goal was ruled out as she had taken two
touches before an opponent or team mate had touched the ball.
With ten minutes of regulation time remaining, Wales came close to snatching it when Ceri
Holland and Jessica Fishlock linked well to play the ball into Green’s path. Her strike came
painstakingly close but ended up on the top of the goal net.
More late drama was to follow. With the Welsh players looking tired, Switzerland took
advantage to use the space and work the ball into the near post where Bachmann sneaked it into
the net from a tight angle. It looked like the Swiss had won it before the 90 minutes were up.
However, as the teams lined up to restart, there was more VAR drama as Riola Xhemaili was in an
offside position in the build-up play.
With the game going into extra time it was a backs to wall display from Wales but after Rachel
Rowe cleared the ball off the line during a scramble from a Swiss corner and penalties looked a
certain possibility, they were dealt the cruellest of blows in football.
In added time of extra time, Rachel Rinast was released down the left and tricked her way past
an opponent. With space to cross in towards the near post, she found the run of Fabienne Humm
who sneaked the ball between the post and Laura O’Sullivan.
The goal in the dying embers of the game was enough to end Wales’ journey and take
Switzerland through to the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Switzerland: Gaelle Thalmann, Noelle Maritz, Viola Calligaris, Luana Bühler, Eseosa
Aigbogun (sub Fabienne Humm 106mins), Lia Wälti, Ana-Maria Crnogorčević, Geraldine
Reuteler, Ramona Bachmann (sub Meriame Terchoun 113mins), Coumba Sow (sub Riola
Xhemaili 75mins), Svenja Fölmli (sub Rachel Rinast, 87mins). Subs: Livia Peng, Elvira Herzog,
Julia Stierli, Seraina Piubel, Laura Felber, Marion Rey, Sandrine Mauron, Nadine Riesen.
Wales: Laura O'Sullivan, Rhiannon Roberts, Hayley Ladd, Gemma Evans, Rachel Rowe, Sophie
Ingle, Angahard James, Jessica Fishlock, Ceri Holland (sub Helen Ward 119mins), Carrie Jones
(sub Ffion Morgan 69mins), Kayleigh Green (sub Lily Woodham 90mins). Subs: Olivia Clark,
Safia Middleton-Patel, Josie Green, Chloe Bull, Elise Hughes, Charlie Estcourt, Georgia Walters,
Megan Wynne, Anna Filbey.
(faw.cymru)
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