Page 30 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.14 2021-22

Wales win in style

Wales 5 Greece 0
at Parc Y Scarlets, Llanelli
Wales continued their FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying campaign in style with a fantastic
performance and 5-0 victory over Greece at Parc Y Scarlets in Llanelli.
Ceri Holland netted twice in the match, to treble her tally of goals for her country, with
captain Sophie Ingle, Kayleigh Green and Natasha Harding also getting on the scoresheet.
Ingle opened the scoring inside the first ten minutes with a strike from the edge of the
area with Wales looking in confident mood. Kayleigh Green soon added the second goal, tapping
into the empty net after charging down Anthi Papakonstantinou’s clearance before Ceri Holland
netted the first of her brace from close range before the half time whistle.
It was more of the same from Wales in the second half as they dominated the match and
after Holland scored her second with a wonder strike from distance, Natasha Harding headed in
the fifth and final goal of the match, powerfully heading home from an Angharad James cross.
It was a pleasing night for Grainger, who saw her team put away five of the nine attempts
that they had on target.
The confidence garnered in their qualifiers to date will be valuable when they come up
against the stern test of France in Guingamp.
Wales: Laura O’Sullivan, Rhiannon Roberts, Esther Morgan, Sophie Ingle, Gemma Evans,
Hayley Ladd (sub Josie Green 45mins), Ceri Holland (sub Carrie Jones 65mins), Angharad
James, Kayleigh Green (sub Helen Ward 74mins), Jessica Fishlock (sub Charlie Estcourt
80mins), Natasha Harding (sub Megan Wynne 74mins). Subs not used: Olivia Clark, Poppy
Soper, Chloe Williams, Elise Hughes, Georgia Walters, Anna Filbey, Ffion Morgan.
Greece: Anthi Papakonstantinou, Vasiliki Giannaka (sub Dimitra Karapetsa 65mins), Thenia
Zerva (sub Tatiana Georgiou 38mins), Athanasia Moraitou, Maria Palama, Danai-Eleni Sidira,
Eleni Kakambouki (sub Grigoria Pouliou 72mins), Sofia Kongouli (sub Christina Kiamou
72mins), Eleni Markou, Veatriki Sarri, Anastasia Spyridonidou (sub Ifigeneia Georgantzi
45mins). Subs not used: Dimitra Giannakouli, Panagiota Chatzicharistou, Maria Kapnisi,
Thomai Vardali, Nikoleta Pitsiou, Maria Paterna.
(faw.cymru)
Wales push France all the way
France 2 Wales 0
Wales went down to their first defeat in their World Cup qualifying campaign but came agonisingly
close to picking up a point late on when the second goal came 30 seconds after hitting the
woodwork at the other end.
Ahead of the match, Gemma Grainger explained that she expected this to be a tough
match and that Wales would know where they are on their journey as a squad. Despite the defeat,
Granger’s team showed they have the character to compete against the very best in the world.
Wales made a real game of it against the FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying group I
leaders but it was heartbreak in the end due to late goals in each half.
Wales put in a resolute display in the first half to keep France at bay but with half time
looming, they were caught in possession high up the pitch. The French counter attack in added
time was devastating as they undid Wales’ hard work with Delphine Cascarino squaring a pass to
Kadidiatou Diani to score.
A fantastic chance for an equaliser came on the hour mark when Jessica Fishlock volleyed
a shot from the edge of the box, forcing Pauline Peyraud-Magnin into a fine save to deny a goal.
Wales were very much in the game, playing higher up the pitch and putting the French
team under pressure.
However, just as they were getting this foothold in the game, it got tougher for them as
they were reduced to 10 players when Kayleigh Green was sent off for a second cautionable offence
following a foul. It was Green’s second red card of the campaign.
Issue no. 14 - 2 December 2021 womenssoccerscene@mail.com