Wales 3-1 Scotland: Fishlock scores two on landmark day for O’Sullivan
Jess Fishlock of Wales in action. Wales v Kazakhstan in FIFA Women's World Cup Qualifier at Parc y Scarlets on the 17th September 2021. Credit: Lewis Mitchell
Wales made it through to the semi-finals of the Pinatar Cup with a 3-1 victory against Scotland in Spain.
On the day that Laura O’Sullivan claimed her 50th cap for her country, it was two goals from Jess Fishlock and one from Tash Harding which proved to be the difference for Wales in sunny Spain.
Wales will now face either Belgium or Slovakia on Saturday.
The opening twenty minutes were nervy, with both teams trying to work each other out. The only blemish for Wales was a suspected hamstring injury to Hayley Ladd, who was forced off fifteen minutes in.
Scotland then had two chances in quick succession. First, a cross from Claire Emslie found Lana Clelland, but her outside foot shot was blocked well by the Welsh defence. From the resulting corner, Jen Beattie found herself unmarked after a flick on by Clelland, but her effort went straight at O’Sullivan.
It was in first-half stoppage time where the game went up a notch. Firstly, Scotland took the lead. Jane Ross played the ball out wide to Christy Grimshaw, and her first-time cross found the head of Clelland, who powered it past O’Sullivan.
A minute later, Wales had a chance to level from the spot. Kayleigh Green ran onto a through ball and was bought down in the area by Jenna Clark. Fishlock stepped up and smashed her penalty into the bottom corner, and Wales went in level at the break
Scotland had a guilt edge opportunity to retake the lead five minutes into the second half. Substitute Abi Harrison turned and made space for a cross, and she found a totally unmarked Emslie at the back post, but she somehow blazed her effort over the bar from six yards out, and it was a real let-off for Wales.
But Wales made the Scots pay for their missed chances three minutes later. Lily Woodham’s ball into the box wasn’t cleared by the Scottish defence, and when the ball broke for Harding, she executed an exquisite backheel into the centre of the box where she found Fishlock, who guided the ball into the bottom corner.
Wales found their third in the 61st minute. Kayleigh Green made a magnificent run down the wing, and her cross found Harding, who snuck the ball in at a tight angle with the deftest of touches to put Wales on the brink of the semi-finals.
Helen Ward came on to win her 98th cap and will be hopeful of reaching her century during this mini-tournament.
Player of the Match: Kayleigh Green
Fishlock will get a lot of plaudits for her two goals but Green was so pivotal for Wales today. Her pressing from the front and her willingness to run into the channels really helped Wales on the break
Wales: Laura O’Sullivan (GK), Rhiannon Roberts, Hayley Ladd (Anna Filbey, 15’), Gemma Evans, Rachel Rowe (Lily Woodham, 46’), Sophie Ingle ©, Ceri Holland (Angharad James, 62’), Jess Fishlock, Tash Harding (Meg Wynne, 75’), Carrie Jones (Ffion Morgan, 46’), Kayleigh Green (Helen Ward, 75’)
Unused Subs: Olivia Clark (GK), Poppy Soper (GK), Elise Hughes, Charlie Estcourt, Chloe Williams, Georgia Walters
Scotland: Jenna Fife (GK), Jen Beattie ©, Lisa Robertson (Kelly Clark, 85’), Christy Grimshaw (Kirsty Hanson, 62’), Caroline Weir, Jane Ross (Chloe Arthur, 46’), Sophie Howard, Christie Murray (Sam Kerr, 62’), Claire Emslie, Lana Clelland (Abi Harrison, 46’), Jenna Clark (Martha Thomas, 46’)
Unused Subs: Eartha Cummings (GK), Kirsty Smith, Nicola Docherty, Lucy Graham, Leah Eddie, Lizzie Arnot
