Wales 1-2 Iceland: Wales relegated from Nations League top tier
Jess Fishlock gets a shot in on goal for Wales v Iceland at Cardiff City Stadium on 1st December 2023. Credit: Perry Dobbins.
Wales have been relegated from League A of the Nations League, after suffering a defeat at home to Iceland.
Goals from Hildur Antonsdóttir and Dilja Zomers sealed a 2-1 win for the Nordic side, despite Wales controlling the game for large parts. Elise Hughes did score deep into added time, but it was too little too late.
It wasn’t to be for Wales, as they suffer relegation to the competition’s second tier, and making their qualification chances for Euro 2025 slightly harder.
Gemma Grainger made three changes from the team that were defeated away to Denmark last time out. Josie Green, Carrie Jones, and Ffion Morgan made way for Rachel Rowe, Ceri Holland, and Kayleigh Green.
Wales knew the task at hand before coming into this game; win by two, and they would leapfrog Iceland and boost their chances of staying in League A. So, it was no surprise that they stepped out onto the front foot early on.
Chances came quickly for Jess Fishlock, Kayleigh Green, and Rachel Rowe, but all saw their efforts flash over or past the frame of the goal.
There was a penalty shout too after Fishlock was fouled in the area, but the referee waved play on. Replays showed there was certainly contact on the OL Reign star, but with no VAR in place, play carried on.
It looked for certain that Cymru would score first, but just before half hour mark, the stuffing was well and truly knocked out of Cardiff City Stadium.
A cross from Sædís Heiðarsdóttir found the head of Hlín Eiríksdóttir. Her nod down caused all sorts of problems in the Wales box, and eventually, Hildur Antonsdóttir came through a crowd of bodies to poke home. Yet another cross this campaign which has led to Wales conceding.
Hush engulfed the bowl of the stadium after the unexpected goal, and that filtered through to the players.
They did try to get back into it, and Angharad James hit a volley that looked on course to hit the target, but it rose over the bar at the last minute.
Grainger’s team had played some of their best football of the campaign in the first half, but defensive errors once again meant they headed into the break behind.
Iceland had been second best throughout the first half, but started the second the better, and a flurry of deliveries into the box caused more problems in the Welsh defence.
Eiríksdóttir did have the ball in the net at one stage, but the Swiss referee believed she used her arm to put the ball past Olivia Clark.
It felt Wales were always searching for the perfect goal. There was plenty of neat passing to enjoy on the edge of the box, but no shot on goal. Elise Hughes and Ffion Morgan came on to try and change that, but again, efforts on goal were not forthcoming.
Their hopes of staying in League A were all but gone ten minutes from time, as Iceland added a second. Dilja Zomers outmuscled Ffion Morgan, before delivering a sumptuous curling strike which edged past the hand of Clark. Perhaps going to show what happens when you do shoot on goal.
There was a brief moment of hope right at the end when Elise Hughes guided a header into the bottom corner, but on a night where Wales needed goals, they simply didn’t have enough guile about them.
The Iceland keeper never had a save to make, epitomising how tepid Wales looked in front of goal. As the final whistle blew, the squad looked void of many things, as their relegation was confirmed.
Player of the Match: Ceri Holland
There are certain players you can just rely on for Wales, and Holland is one of them. The runs she makes, the way she brings others into play, the way she never gives up, it’s a joy to watch. She certainly deserved something from this game, but sadly for her and her team, they got nothing.
Wales
Olivia Clark, Rhiannon Roberts (Ffion Morgan 73’), Hayley Ladd, Gemma Evans, Lily Woodham, Angharad James, Sophie Ingle ©, Jess Fishlock, Ceri Holland, Kayleigh Green (Elise Hughes 64’), Rachel Rowe
Unused Subs: Laura O’Sullivan, Safia Middleton-Patel, Josie Green, Alice Griffiths, Charlie Estcourt, Mary McAteer, Megan Wynne, Ella Powell, Carrie Jones, Anna Filbey
Goals: Elise Hughes (90’)
Iceland
Telma Ívarsdóttir, Guðrún Arnardóttir (Gudny Árnadóttir 64’), Glódís Viggósdóttir ©, Ingibjörg Sigurðardóttir, Sædís Heiðarsdóttir, Hildur Antonsdóttir (Alexandra Jóhannsdóttir 73’), Karólína Vilhjálmsdóttir, Selma Magnúsdóttir, Hafrún Halldórsdóttir (Arna Ásgrímsdóttir 81’), Hlín Eiríksdóttir (Bryndis Nielsdóttir 73’), Sandra Jessen (Dilja Zomers 64’)
Unused Subs: Guðný Geirsdóttir, Fanney Birkisdóttir, Berglind Ágústsdóttir, Lára Pedersen, Ólöf Kristinsdóttir, Agla Albertsdóttir, Amanda Andradóttir
Goals: Hildur Antonsdóttir (29’), Dilja Zomers (79’)
Yellows: Ingibjörg Sigurðardóttir (62’), Telma Ívarsdóttir (82’)
