Wales booked their place within the World Cup play-offs with a goalless draw at dwelling to Slovenia.
On a tense evening in Cardiff, Wales – who’ve by no means certified for a serious girls’s event – knew {that a} level would seal their spot among the many hopefuls subsequent month.
Just 1,745 followers had witnessed the beginning of Wales’ World Cup marketing campaign in opposition to Kazakhstan in Llanelli practically a 12 months in the past.
But expectations have risen in 12 months and a report dwelling crowd of 12,741 – greater than double the earlier better of 5,445 – have been current to see whether or not Gemma Grainger’s facet may transfer nearer to subsequent summer time’s World Cup finals in Australia and New Zealand.
Wales did so, regardless of not being at their greatest, owing a lot to a compact defence that saved third-placed Slovenia beneath them in Group I.
Tottenham midfielder Angharad James received her one hundredth cap, at 28 years of age the youngest of the 9 Wales female and male gamers to take action.
But Jess Fishlock, Wales’ most capped participant, was on the bench once more after lacking Friday’s 1-0 win in Greece by way of damage.
Wales began nervously as in the event that they have been solely too conscious of the magnitude of the sport.
Rachel Rowe’s mistake allowed Mateja Zver to advance on the house aim and shoot straight at Laura O’Sullivan.
Zver was a artistic drive in the course of the early levels, and the Slovenia captain performed a intelligent one-two with Lara Prasnikar earlier than flashing a drive simply over the crossbar.
Wales slowly settled and a sweeping transfer noticed Sophie Ingle launch Carrie Jones for a shot that was safely collected by Zala Mersnik within the guests’ aim.
Green then arrange Ingle from 12 yards, however the Wales captain despatched her volley simply huge of Mersnik’s upright.
Jones was off-target with one other try and Wales continued to have the sting after the break.
James fired straight at Mersnik and Wales have been left to rue the absence of VAR after 51 minutes.
Dominika Conc slid into the again of Jones, who was simply contained in the penalty space, however Ukrainian referee Kateryna Monzul waved play on.
Mersnik made saves from Jones, Wales’ most harmful participant, and Gemma Evans, whose free header from 5 yards out was straight on the Slovenia goalkeeper and batted away.
Zver gave the hosts a scare by curling huge from 18 yards, however in the long run the celebrations belonged to Wales and the hope of emulating their males’s facet by showing at a World Cup.
Source: www.impartial.co.uk