Wales 1-0 New Zealand: Green strikes late to break Wales’ barren spell in front of goal
Wales Women v New Zealand international match at Leckwith Stadium. Lewis Mitchell/YCPD.
A late strike from Kayleigh Green earned them a first victory in almost a year over World Cup participants New Zealand.
It was the first goal for Wales in six matches, with Jayne Ludlow’s side last finding the net last year against Russia.
Three days earlier, the Football Ferns claimed a victory over England at the AMEX Stadium. Sarah Gregorius was on the scoresheet on Saturday afternoon but missed a penalty in the first half.
The win was made the ever more impressive, given that Angharad James and Jess Fishlock were absent.
O’Sullivan made a string of good saves whilst the Wales defence looked assertive against tricky opposition.
It was the visitors who started the brightness out of the two sides as Sarah Gregorius’ shot fired just wide of the post.
The first real opportunity that Wales had of the first half was when a great delivery from Gemma Evans was whipped in towards the far post but Wales skipper Sophie Ingle was unable to control her header which flew over the bar.
New Zealand had another good chance to make the breakthrough in the capital when forward Gregorius found time and space outside the area to unleash a powerful strike which was tremendously saved by Laura O’Sullivan down to her left-hand side.
There was to be some late drama towards the end of the first half as New Zealand were awarded a penalty after Natasha Harding brought down Gregorius inside the penalty area. From the resulting spot kick, O’Sullivan pulled off an unbelievable save to keep the game on level terms going into the interval.
The second half saw Jayne Ludlow’s side the more dominant as they created some early opportunities.
Sophie Ingle who made a great darting run towards the New Zealand penalty area but she could only drive her right footed- effort into the arms of the untroubled Erin Nayler after some great interchange play between her and Charlie Estcourt.
Both sides continued to create chances but failed to find the cutting edge within the final third.
Wales had a brilliant chance to take the lead after they caught Tom Sermanni’s side on the break after a long ball upfield was played into the path of Emma Wayne who was unable to square her pass to the feet of Green after some last-ditch defending this time from the visitors.
Just as three minutes of additional time were shown Charlie Estcourt whipped in a marching free-kick towards Sophie Ingle at the back post who flicked a neat header towards the near post to Green who latched onto to then guide her header amazingly into the bottom left-hand corner, sealing the victory against New Zealand.
(Featured Image: Lewis Mitchell)
