Women’s World Cup Qualifiers: Slovenia 1-1 Wales
Kayleigh Green saved a valuable point for Wales in Slovenia before she was excluded in the fiery match of the World Cup qualifiers.
Wales missed quite a few opportunities, as goalkeeper Zala Mersnik took care of the heroism and they had to pay when the substitute Manja Rogan shot from 20 meters in the 69th minute.
Green equalized with a Wales header two minutes later before being ruled out for receiving a second yellow card.
Slovenia was striving for the winner, but Wales held firm in the crucial match.
The competition in Lendava was the 200th match for Wales, with the first official match against Iceland at the Afan Lido in 1993.
The stakes were higher for this World Cup qualifier between the two countries, which are only 15 places away in the world rankings and are aiming for at least a place in the playoffs as they aim to make it to the 2023 World Cup.
Wales won the opening matches in Group I against Kazakhstan and Estonia, while Slovenia defeated Estonia before an unfortunate 3-2 defeat against the group’s favorite France, so the match between the second and third seed was crucial.
Wales coach Gemma Grainger hasn’t had a chance to name an unchanged side with influential defender Rachel Rowe, who was injured in training during camp, so 19-year-old Tottenham teenager Esther Morgan started as a left-back.
The heavy ground at the Sports Park made things difficult for the players, but Wales started confidently as Jess Fishlock saw her penalty appeal go away after the shot as early as the third minute.
Fishlock then took care of Natasha Harding with a lavish pass, but the Reading captain refused with a brilliant clash by Lane Golob.
Slovenia started to create more chances at the other end, but Wales defended resolutely and then missed a wonderful opportunity to take the lead when goalkeeper Mersnik defended Rhiannon Roberts’ head after a fantastic free kick by Angharad James from close range.
Ceri Holland was also turned down as she tried to head home with Wales, which could not turn a good performance in the first half into a lead.
Mersnik denied Roberts a second time when she hit a goal with her head from a corner from James, and Wales almost had to pay for a series of missed chances.
Grainger’s team could easily have lagged behind in the 42nd minute, but Slovenian captain Mateja Zver fired after avoiding miscommunication between Roberts and goalkeeper Laura O’Sullivan.
Wales were on the back foot at the start of the second half, but Lara Prasnikar and Dominica Conc failed to find a target with long-range shots, and on the other hand, the hosts were frightened by another set of James, but Holland failed to hit a telling shot. .
With a lovely move by Wales, Fishlock and Natasha Harding created an opportunity for Green, but Mersnik bravely gave it up with a stifling defense.
Another great opportunity came for Wales in the 67th minute, but Fishlock hit the roof of the net with a header from Holland’s break.
Wales paid the price for countless misses when they failed to clear and replace Rogan shooting home to give the hosts the lead.
The goal was sharp for Wales and they responded within two minutes when she finally said her superiority when Green hit James with a header from a free kick.
Green’s joy soon turned to misery when she was ruled out after receiving a second yellow card for a quick confrontation with Mersnikova in a match in which eight cards were issued.
Wales ’numerical shortcoming actually ended their offensive ambitions, but they ended the match without much fear of earning a valuable point, despite Adriana Mori hitting the header far in the referee’s extra time.
Wales manager Gemma Grainger told BBC Sport Wales:
“The game had a lot of twists and turns. I think we created better chances in the first half and I think their goalkeeper made some very good defenses.
“We created opportunities again in the second half, it’s a disappointment to admit, but the equalizer so soon after the goal is a big positive.
“The exclusion happens and it’s to their credit how the girls saw the game at 10.
“The draw is huge. We were away against a quality team. We come home with a point and we’re happy.”
Layouts
Slovenia women
Design 4-2-3-1
- 1Mersnik
- 16Erzen
- 2Pigeon
- 5RožmarićBooked at 52 min
- 7ErmanBooked at 90 min
- 10ConcReplaced byMoriat 68 ‘minutesBooked at 90 min
- 6KorosecBooked at 45 min
- 14KolblReplaced byMilovicat 68 ‘minutes
- 20BegicBooked at 33minReplaced byRoganat 45 ‘minutes
- 8The beast
- 11PrasnikarBooked at 11 min
Substitutes
- 3Chest
- 4Bin
- 9Mori
- 12Sapek
- 13Kustrin
- 15Makovec
- 17Cross
- 18Rogan
- 19Milovic
- 21Klopčič
- 22Nemet
- 23Predanic
Wales
Design 4-1-4-1
- 1O’Sullivan
- 5Roberts
- 14Ladd
- 3Evans
- 17Morgan
- 8James
- 11Harding
- 4English
- 10Fishlock
- 18The Netherlands
- 9GreenBooked at 75 min
Substitutes
- 2Woodham
- 6Green
- 7Ward
- 12Clark
- 13Hughes
- 15Cain
- 16Estcourt
- 19Wynne
- 20Jones
- 21Soper
- 22Filbey
- 23Morgan
Live text
-
The match ends, Slovenia women 1, Wales women 1.
-
At the end of the second half, Slovenia women 1, Wales women 1.
-
Offense by Adriana Mori (Slovenia, women).
-
Angharad James (Wales Women) got a free kick on a left wing.
-
Offside, Wales women. Esther Morgan tries to head the ball to a team mate, but Ceri Holland is caught offside.
-
Adrijana Mori (Slovenia Women) is booked for a foul.
-
Offense by Adriana Mori (Slovenia, women).
-
Ceri Holland (Wales Women) was awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
-
An attempt failed. Adrijana Mori (Slovenia Women) misses her head from the center of the box to the right. Kristina Erman helped with the cross.
-
Kristina Erman (Slovenia Women) received a yellow card.
-
Misdemeanor by Špela Rožmarić (Slovenia, women).
-
Jess Fishlock (Wales Women) was given a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Offense by Adriana Mori (Slovenia, women).
-
Angharad James (Wales Women) was given a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Attempt blocked. Ana Milović (Slovenia) has a shot blocked. Helps Adriana Mori.
-
Attempt blocked. Kristina Erman (Slovenia), right-footed shot from more than 35 meters is blocked.
-
Offense by Adriana Mori (Slovenia, women).
-
Hayley Ladd (Wales Women) was awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Corner, Slovenia women. Received by Rhiannon Roberts.
-
The second yellow card was received by Kayleigh Green (Wales Women) due to a serious error.