Page 19 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.4 2021-22

Wales hit Kazakhstan for six

Wales 6 (K.Green 17,70, Harding 30, Rowe 54, Evans 90, Holland 90)
Kazakhstan 0
at Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli
Gemma Grainger's side cruised to a 6-0 victory in Wales'
opening match of their FIFA Women's World Cup
Qualifying campaign against Kazakhstan.
Six wonderful goals by Kayleigh Green, Natasha
Harding, Rachel Rowe, Gemma Evans and Ceri Holland
entertained the crowd in an impressive victory for Wales
at Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli.
From the outset, Grainger's side enjoyed most of
the possession, often forcing Kazakhstan to play very
deep. Wales started brightly with early chances for
Harding and Green - Harding with a header saved by the Natasha Harding gets in a shot (Will Cheshire).
keeper and Green with another header going over the bar.
After ten minutes, Evans also came close from a Wales corner. Rowe expertly crossed the
ball into the box which fell to Evans' head and forced a goal line clearance from Saratovtseva.
With Wales' high press, it was only a matter of time that a goal would come.
It soon came after just 17 minutes. Holland's pass forced an error from Nurusheva and
Green was in the right place to capitalize on the mis-hit. With space on her side, Green struck
cleanly on the edge of the box into the top right hand corner, leaving Kazakhstan's goalkeeper
watching it strike the back of the net.
Wales were controlling the play with ease at the half hour mark, when Ingle played a
lovely through ball to Harding, who took a touch, turned and guided the ball perfectly inside the
far post.
Grainger's side continued their dominance well into the second half and were clearly
chasing more goals. After 54 minutes, Jessica Fishlock found Rowe in space 30 yards out when
she unleashed an unbelievable strike into the top left hand corner, earning a rapturous applause
from the home crowd. This goal was symptomatic of the confidence with which Wales had
played all evening.
The home side's flowing style continued to cause problems to Kazakhstan, with
Saratovtsev making an excellent double save to deny Wales. Her efforts however were soon in
vain as from the subsequent short corner routine, Rowe crossed to Green who headed the ball
into the back of the net.
Evans, who had come close in the first half, finally converted after 90 minutes, heading
home from yet another corner. The desire for goals didn't stop there. Two minutes later Ceri
Holland joined the scoresheet, securing her first ever senior goal and taking the final tally to a
six-goal victory.
Wales: Laura O'Sullivan, Gemma Evans, Sophie Ingle, Rhiannon Roberts (sub Esther
Morgan 86mins), Angharad James (sub Carrie Jones 71mins), Kayleigh Green (sub Helen
Ward 74mins), Jessica Fishlock, Natasha Harding (sub Megan Wynne 86mins), Rachel Rowe,
Hayley Ladd, Ceri Holland. Subs not used: Olivia Clark, Poppy Soper, Lily Woodham, Josie
Green, Elise Hughes, Charlie Estcourt, Anna Filbey, Ffion Morgan.
Kazakhstan: Irina Saratovtseva, Aigerim Aitymova, Mariya Demidova (sub Asselkhan
Turlybekova 84mins), Madina Zhanatayeva, Bibigul Nurusheva, Svetlana Bortnikova (sub
Karina Zhumabaikyzy 68mins), Yulia Myasnikova, Fatima Satygaliyeva (sub Kundyz
Kozhakhmet 45mins), Alexandra Burova (sub Asselkhan Turlybekova 84mins), Ksenia
Khairulina (sub Begaim Kirgizbaeva 46mins), Anastassiya Vlassova. Subs not used: Nazym
Ismailova, Angelina Portnova, Tatyana Sosnovskaya, Aisha Sadykova.
(faw.cymru)
Issue no. 4 - 23 September 2021 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk