Wales walloped by Denmark in Nations League home opener
CARDIFF, WALES - 26 SEPTEMBER 2023: Denmark's Pernille Harder scores to make it 0-1 during the UEFA Women’s Nations League fixture between Wales Women & Denmark Women on the 26th of September at the Cardiff City Stadium (Pic by John Smith/FAW)
Wales suffered a humiliating 5-1 defeat to Denmark at Cardiff City Stadium in their first home game of their Nations League campaign.
Danish superstar Pernille Harder grabbed a hat-trick, while Frederikke Thøgersen and Sanne Troelsgaard also got themselves on the scoresheet. Jess Fishlock did pull it back to 2-1 at one stage, but it was a highly disappointing night for Gemma Grainger’s side.
Gemma Grainger elected to make one change from the side that were defeated away to Iceland last time out, as Rachel Rowe replaced Kayleigh Green.
The Welsh defence has garnered a lot of praise over the last couple of campaigns, but they were under the cosh straight away from a high pressing Danish frontline. In fact, the game was only six minutes old when Wales committed their first error.
A Denmark corner fell to Amalie Vansgaard, and as she tried to take it under control, she was kicked in the air by Rhiannon Roberts. The referee had no other option but to point to the spot. Up stepped captain Pernille Harder, and she dispatched her penalty right into the bottom corner.
Harder on her day is one of the best players in the world, and she bagged her second five minutes after her first. Josefine Hasbo conjured up a magical pass while on the floor to play in Frederikke Thøgersen. The wing-back drove a cross into the box, where the Bayern Munich forward passed the ball into the net at the far post.
Wales looked tepid and not themselves. Arsenal midfielder Kathrine Kühl was allowed to run past four or five players before she had an effort on goal; a chance that epitomised much of the first half.
At the other end of the pitch, the much-maligned Welsh attack also weren’t looking themselves. Often Carrie Jones, playing as a lone striker, was forced to try and create something on her own. When she got the support, the first thought was to play the ball backwards, rather than take a risk going forward.
The defence were dealt another warning before the break. Vansgaard managed to flick the ball over Hayley Ladd before bolting off down the wing. Her cross found Harder, who made space for herself, but failed to curl her strike into the top corner. You would’ve had money on the former Chelsea star scoring her third.
Wales looked slightly better in the last five minutes, with Ceri Holland firing into the side netting, but overall, Wales knew the needed something big to change in the second half.
Grainger’s side seemed to come out with a fire in their belly, and they pulled one goal back six minutes into the second period. Jones managed to lay the ball off to Jess Fishlock, and she managed to take her time and pick her spot from outside the box. Suddenly, Cardiff City Stadium felt electric.
Yet, the electricity seeped out the ground once more, as Denmark found their third goal. A clipped cross from Sofie Svava evaded every Welsh defender, allowing Thøgersen to tap in from close range.
The third goal seemed to calm the Danes down, and they didn’t push as hard up the pitch as they had done for most of the game. The task for Wales was to get up the pitch and try and create something, but whether it be a loose ball or a wild shot, nothing was testing Lene Christensen in the Danish net.
The closest Wales came was with five minutes to go, but Kayleigh Green couldn’t quite connect with Ffion Morgan’s wicked cross.
Instead, it was Denmark who would finish their rout in the dying embers of the game. Nicole Sørensen beat the offside trap and sprinted down the left. Her shot was saved by the legs of Olivia Clark, but the rebounded fell straight to Sanne Troelsgaard, who executed a wonderful diving header to make it four.
Just when Wales thought the onslaught was over, Harder finished them off. Katrine Veje’s first time shot cannoned off the bar, but Harder timed her run perfectly to finish the rebound and claim her hat-trick.
All in all, a terrible night for Wales. They will now travel to Germany and Denmark in October for their next Nations League fixtures.
Player of the Match: Ceri Holland
Very slim pickings for player of the match, but Holland put in a good shift. She never stopped running, but I feel like her best position is in the central of midfield rather than out on the wing.
Wales
Olivia Clark, Rhiannon Roberts, Hayley Ladd, Gemma Evans, Lily Woodham, Sophie Ingle ©, Angharad James, Jess Fishlock (Josie Green 75’), Ceri Holland, Carrie Jones (Ffion Morgan 75’), Rachel Rowe (Kayleigh Green 46’)
Unused Subs: Laura O’Sullivan, Safia Middleton-Patel, Mary McAteer, Chloe Williams, Ella Powell, Esther Morgan, Meg Wynne, Elise Hughes, Anna Filbey
Goals: Jess Fishlock (51’)
Yellow Cards: Jess Fishlock (36’), Hayley Ladd (65’)
Denmark
Lene Christensen, Frederikke Thøgersen, Stine Ballisager, Simone Boye Sørensen, Katrine Veje (Rikke Sevecke 90’), Josefine Hasbo, Kathrine Kühl, Sofie Junge (Sanne Troelsgaard 66’), Sofie Svava (Nicoline Sørensen 83’), Amalie Vangsgaard (Signe Bruun 66’), Pernille Harder © (Mille Gejl 90’)
Unused Subs: Kathrine Larsen, Maja Østergaard, Sara Thrige, Sofie Bredgaard, Rikke Madsen, Luna Gevitz, Emma Færge
Goals: Pernille Harder (6’, 11’), Frederikke Thøgersen (60’), Sanne Troelsgaard (87’)
