Jess Fishlock broke Gareth Bale’s Welsh goal-scoring record tonight, as Wales hammered Croatia 4-0 at the Racecourse.
Fishlock scored the only goal of the first half but added her and Wales’ second two minutes into the second half. That second strike the record breaking one.
Rachel Rowe and Angharad James also found two early goals in the second half in what was a perfect start to Rhian Wilkinson’s time in the dugout.
Wales move to the top of their group after one game, level on points with Ukraine, who won against Kosovo earlier in the day.
There was one change from the side that won their friendly against the Republic of Ireland last month. That change came in the defence, with Ella Powell replacing Josie Green.
As Elise Hughes got the ball rolling to kick off the qualifying campaign, everyone at the Racecourse and at home wondered, how long would it be until we saw the first goal of the new era?
With the game four minutes old, we had our answered. Rachel Rowe was allowed a lot of space as she approached the Croatian box and was able to find Jess Fishlock with a precise through ball. With time on her side, the Seattle Reign star showed great composure to slide the ball into the bottom corner. Almost fitting that it would be the great Fishlock would open Wilkinson’s account.
The Welsh pressure continued straight after, with the new head coach urging her team to attack at will. A second goal almost came from it, but Ella Powell’s cross turned shot was gathered in the nick of time by Napoli’s Doris Bačić.
A lot of Wales’ brightest moments came down the left. Croatian full-back Petra Pezelj was being given a torrid time by Lily Woodham and Elise Hughes. The Split defender looked in serious trouble.
However, even though Wales looked in control, they couldn’t create anything clear cut on goal. For sure, the first thought of every player was to play the ball forward and move the ball from side to side, but when it came to chances, they were very much at a premium.
In terms of Croatia, when they came forward, they offered very little. When they did venture into opposition territory, the Welsh defence were organised and thwarted any sniff of an attack.
Wales could have had a second before the break when Hughes got on the end of Hayley Ladd’s cross, but she couldn’t direct her header on target, meaning Wales held a one-goal lead at the break.
There may have been a feeling in the Cae Ras that, while Wales were ahead, the longer it remained 1-0, the more of a chance Croatia had of getting back into the game. After all, it’s a story we have become so used to under the previous manager.
That story would be flipped on its head, as Wales scored three quick goals at the start of the second half.
A ball from deep found its way to Fishlock, who took it on her chest expertly, but her chip hit the bar. But like any good forward, she followed the ball and managed to outleap the tall Croatian keeper to nod in her second of the game, and overtake Bale’s record in the process. Helen Ward now the only player standing in her way of the outright record.
Moments later it was three. Some sloppy Croatia defending allowed Fishlock to pinch the ball away. In acres of space, she was able to slide in Rowe who guided the ball into the far corner. A role reversal of the first goal.
Two goals inside two minutes has been very un-Wales like in the last few years, but three in six minutes? It was almost unheard of, but that’s what Wilkinson’s side managed to achieve.
After some tidy passing in the middle third, Gemma Evans pinged a ball into the box and found Angharad James, who made a tremendous run to the far post to poke the ball in. Wales were ruthless.
A healthy lead meant Wilkinson was able to give chances to some younger players, like Mary McAteer. The striker has been in great form for Sunderland in the Championship, and she almost scored her first goal for Wales, but she fired the ball straight at Bačić.
Fellow substitute Ceri Holland went even closer, as her curling effort rattled the crossbar. You sensed Wales were enjoying themselves in this great colosseum of football.
Wales saw the game out in a thoroughly professional manner, as they picked up their first win in their first game of the campaign.
Wales will next be in action on Tuesday when they travel to take on Kosovo. The match is taking place in the city of Podujevo and kick-off is at 1pm.
Player of the Match: Jess Fishlock
Couldn’t really be anyone else, could it? Brilliantly taken goals, great vision, never stopped running. She just epitomises what it’s like to play for Wales and it was a joy to watch her on the field tonight.
Wales
Olivia Clark, Ella Powell (Ffion Morgan 46’), Rhiannon Roberts, Hayley Ladd, Gemma Evans, Lily Woodham, Angharad James, Sophie Ingle © (Alice Griffiths 86’), Jess Fishlock (Lois Joel 77’), Elise Hughes (Ceri Holland 65’), Rachel Rowe (Mary McAteer 65’)
Unused Subs: Laura O’Sullivan, Soffia Kelly, Josie Green, Kayleigh Barton, Charlie Estcourt, Ellen Jones, Mayzee Davies
Goals: Jess Fishlock (4’, 49’), Rachel Rowe (51’), Angharad James (54’)
Croatia
Doris Bačić ©, Kristina Nevrkla, Leonarda Balog, Tea Vračević, Maria Kunštek, Ružica Krajinović (Paula Vidović 65’), Tea Krznarić, Andrea Gilbo (Ivana Slipčević 65’), Petra Pezelj, Ana Jelenčić, Izabela Lojna (Ana Markovic 57’)
Unused Subs: Ana Filipović, Laura Fiket, Janja Čanjevac, Ivana Kirilenko, Karla Jedvaj, Veronika Terzić, Fatjesa Gegollaj
Yellows: Andrea Gilbo (54’)
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