Page 10 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.5 2020-21

Wales 3 (Harding 15, Rowe 33, Fishlock pen 72) Belarus 0
Wales finished their UEFA Euro 2022 qualifying
campaign on a winning note with an emphatic 3-0
victory over Belarus at Rodney Parade, but it was
not enough to earn themselves a play-off place
despite only conceding four times in their eight
group matches.
Jayne Ludlow's side went into the match
with matters out of their hands and they did all they
could on the night, but are left regretting conceding
an injury time equaliser to Northern Ireland when
the sides met at the same venue last year, which
meant they lost out on away goals on the head-to-
head basis.
Wales made a flying start to the game and
almost took the lead when Ffion Morgan broke
down the right and crossed for Natasha Harding Ksenia Kubichnaya wins this aerial challenge against
whose header was tipped around the post by Rachel Rowe (Will Cheshire).
Nataliya Voskobovich. However just two minutes
later, the midfielder was to open the scoring when Rhiannon Roberts' ball from deep into the
area was chased down by Jessica Fishlock, who stole the ball as a defender tried to let it run
out of play and set up Harding to take a touch, before sliding home.
Morgan was unlucky not to score her first goal for her country as she headed against the
post from a Fishlock cross, but just after the half hour, Wales were to double their lead. After
exchanging passes with Angharad James inside the area, Rachel Rowe looped her shot over
Voskobovich and inside the far post, to take her team into the interval with a two-goal lead.
Wales continued in the same vein at the start of the second half with Roberts and James
both having shots charged down, but it was Belarus who to go closer at the other end.
Following a foul on Anastasiya Shuppo just outside the area, Anastasiya Shcherbachenia
stepped up to fire her shot against the bar.
If the near miss had created any anxiety in the Wales team, they were put firmly to bed
when Harding was brought down in the area by Anastasiya Linnik, allowing Fishlock to score
her 30th goal for her country from the resulting penalty.
Rowe had a shot saved by Voskobovich but with the three points in the bag, Ludlow was
given the opportunity to make a number of substitutions including appearances for Lily
Woodham and Georgia Walters. Belarus did hit the woodwork in injury time through Tatyana
Krasnova but it was a night of mixed emotions for Wales who produced a fine performance but
were left wondering what might have been.
Wales: Laura O'Sullivan, Ffion Morgan (sub Georgia Walters 80mins), Rachel Rowe (sub
Kayleigh Green 85mins), Sophie Ingle, Rhiannon Roberts, Hayley Ladd, Josie Green,
Angharad James, Charlie Estcourt (sub Lily Woodham 70mins), Jessica Fishlock (sub
Gemma Evans 85mins), Natasha Harding (sub Nadia Lawrence 85mins). Subs not used:
Claire Skinner, Poppy Soper, Helen Ward, Elise Hughes, Kylie Nolan, Carrie Jones, Chloe
Williams.
Belarus: Nataliya Voskobovich, Anastasiya Linnik (sub Anna Sas 89mins), Anastasiya
Shcherbachenia (sub Anastasiya Kharlanova 89mins), Anastasiya Novikova, Viktoriya
Kazakevich, Anna Kozyupa, Karina Olikhovik (sub Tatyana Krasnova 25mins), Anastasiya
Shuppo (sub Milana Surovtseva 72mins), Valeryia Bohdan, Kseniya Kubichnaya (sub
Anastasiya Shlapakova 45mins), Anna Pilipenko. Subs not used: Ekaterina Miklashevich,
Ekaterina Kovalchuk, Anastasiya Pobegaylo, Vita Nikolaenko, Valeria Karachun.
Issue no. 5 - 3 December 2020 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk