Page 6 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.23 2021-22

Wales go down on penalties

Wales 0 Belgium 0
Belgium won 3-1 on penalties
Wales will play the Republic of Ireland in a third-place play off in the Pinatar Cup following
a goalless draw and a penalty shoot-out loss to Belgium in the semi-final.
Gemma Grainger made four changes to the side that beat Scotland 3-1 only 72 hours
earlier, handing a first start to goalkeeper Olivia Clark and putting her faith in youngsters Lily
Woodham and Charlie Estcourt as the two full backs. Angharad James returned to the
starting eleven after being used as a substitute against the Scots.
Wales started brightly and almost took the lead on four minutes as Jessica Fishlock’s
close range half volley flew over the bar. The first half was a very even affair fought in the
centre of the park amid windy conditions in the Pinatar Arena, with Marie Minnaert coming
closest for Belgium with a close range miss.
Ffion Morgan and Gemma Evans were brought on for the second half, and Ffion’s
energy on the wing created several Wales chances, including a Kayleigh Green header which
went straight towards the Belgian keeper. At the opposite end, Olivia Clark was forced into a
superb save, denying Wijnants a clear chance in front of goal. Wales’ final change of the
match saw midfielder Chloe Williams handed her international debut, replacing Fishlock in
the middle of the park.
Wales’ best chance of the match also came in the second half, as substitute Megan
Wynne saw her effort after a well worked move narrowly miss the target by inches. Following
the chance, Wales survived an onslaught of Belgian set pieces in the closing stages to take the
match to penalties.
With very little penalty shootout experience in the Welsh squad, three attempts were
saved by Diede Lemey, seeing the Belgians through to the final.
Wales: Olivia Clark, Lily Woodham, Sophie Ingle, Rhiannon Roberts, Charlie Estcourt,
Angharad James, Jessica Fishlock (sub Chloe Williams 76mins), Carrie Jones (sub Gemma
Evans 45mins), Ceri Holland (sub Ffion Morgan 45mins), Natasha Harding (sub Megan
Wynne 64mins), Kayleigh Green. Subs not used: Laura O’Sullivan, Poppy Soper, Chloe Bull,
Helen Ward, Elise Hughes, Anna Filbey, Georgia Walters, Morgan Rogers.
Belgium: Diede Lemey, Janice Cayman, Sari Kees, Laura De Neve (sub Amber Tysiak
64mins), Laura Deloose (sub Davina Phitjens 65mins), Tine De Caigny (sub Lenie Onzia
65mins), Julie Biesmans (sub Jassina Blom 64mins), Marie Minnaert, Jill Janssens (sub
Jarne Teulings 72mins), Yana Daniels (sub Hannah Eurlings 71mins), Sarah Wijnants.
Subs not used: Nicky Evrard, Silke Vanwynsberghe, Isabelle Iliaro, Lisa Lichtfus.
(faw.cymru)
Wales campaign ends in defeat
Wales 0 Republic of Ireland 1
Wales’ Pinatar Cup campaign ended on a losing note as they were narrowly beaten 1-0 by
Republic of Ireland in the third place play-off match.
Helen Ward came off the bench in their final match of the Pinatar Cup in Spain to earn
her 99th cap, as Gemma Grainger’s team completed their preparation for the crunch FIFA
Women’s World Cup qualifier against France.
Ward has been an incredible servant to Welsh football and now stands on the cusp of
joining Jessica Fishlock, Loren Dykes, Sophie Ingle, Chris Gunter and Gareth Bale in the
Wales 100 club.
The 1-0 defeat to the Republic of Ireland saw Wales end this friendly tournament in
fourth place, however Grainger will take plenty of positives from their time in Spain having
Issue no. 23 - 24 February 2022 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk