Wales 2-0 Slovakia: Wales keep Euro 2025 hopes alive with extra time winner
Ceri Holland of Wales celebrates scoring her sides second goal. Wales v Slovakia in the UEFA Women’s European Qualifying Play-offs at Cardiff City Stadium on the 29th October 2024. (Image: Lewis Mitchell/FAW)
Wales overcame a first leg deficit to defeat Slovakia 3-2 on aggregate to reach the final round of the European Championship playoffs.
Jess Fishlock brought the tie level on aggregate at the end of the first half, but despite having plenty of clear-cut chances in the second, Wales couldn’t find a way through, with the offside flag denying them twice.
Extra time followed, and it was more of the same for Wales; plenty of good intent, but no reward. But with five minutes remaining, Ceri Holland became Wales’ latest saviour, as she powered home the winner, this time thanks to a VAR intervention.
The next opponents for Wales will be the Republic of Ireland. The first leg will take place next month at Cardiff City Stadium, before Wales hop over the Irish Sea to take on the Republic at the Aviva Stadium.
Manager Rhian Wilkinson made four changes from the side that started in Poprad on Friday night. After impressing off the bench, there were starting spots for Ffion Morgan, Jess Fishlock, and Alice Griffiths, with Rhiannon Roberts also coming back into the fold.
The four to drop to the bench were Kayleigh Barton, Carrie Jones, Josie Green, and Charlie Estcourt.
Seeking to turn their one-goal deficit around quickly, Wales played their trademark possession football in order to try and drag Slovakia all over the field.
While many expected the Slovaks to sit and try and defend their lead, they in fact did the opposite and tried to attack the Welsh defence. However, they weren’t getting as much success as they did in Poprad.
A very quiet opening began to change midway through the first 45. Wales looked to play more on the front foot but couldn’t quite get it right in the final third. Pot shots from distance from the likes of Rachel Rowe and Ceri Holland looked like being the best chances of the half.
But in crucial moments, big stars shine, and those stars don’t get any bigger than Jess Fishlock. Having been played through expertly by Angharad James, Fishlock, in acres of space, took her time before delightfully chipping the ball over the keeper. Parity restored overall, and a huge sigh of relief went around the home of Welsh football.
The veteran could have had a second moments later after a mix-up in the Slovak defence, but somehow, she couldn’t beat the onrushing keeper.
The first part of the job was complete, Wales had brought themselves level overall, but now they needed to get themselves in front.
At the start of the second half, Cymru had a host of chances to do just that. Holland and Ffion Morgan both sent curling efforts wide of the mark, before Morgan missed the best chance of them all, putting the ball wide of the post in a one-on-one situation.
Having been under severe Slovak pressure in the first leg, the roles were well and truly reversed in Cardiff as Wales put their opponents under heavy pressure.
As expected, Fishlock was at the heart of everything good for Wilkinson’s side. She almost got on the end of Rowe’s rasping cross, before putting the ball in the net twice, only to be denied on both occasions by the offside flag.
Slovakia had not tested Olivia Clark one bit, but deep into the second half, they had a golden chance. Catching Wales on the break, Tamara Moráková raced through unopposed, but instead of running through, she elected to take a shot from distance which was well off target.
That was the final chance of the 90. Wales had looked by far the better team but couldn’t find a crucial second goal. Into extra-time we went.
Another quiet half followed, with little to no chances. The only happening of note saw Fishlock volley over the bar from inside the box. The penalty clouds suddenly started looming over the capital.
Even into the second half, the game looked destined for penalties. But with eight minutes to go, Wales’ prayers were answered. Kayleigh Barton beat the offside trap but couldn’t beat the keeper. There on the rebound was Holland, who slammed home with vengeance. It looked like the offside flag would deny them for a third time, but VAR was on Wales’ side this time. Was that the winning goal?
Slovakia threw everything forward in the final furlongs, but to no avail. Should it have ever gotten to this stage? Probably not, but it need not matter in the end, as Wales progress through to the final round of the playoffs.
Next up is the Republic of Ireland. The first leg will take place at Cardiff City Stadium on Friday November 29th.
Player of the Match: Lily Woodham
Honourable mentions to both goal scorers, but Woodham for me was excellent. On Friday, she never looked truly comfortable out on her side, but tonight was a different story. She dominated, linked up expertly with those around her, and in many ways, this felt like a coming-of-age game for the Crystal Palace loanee.
Wales
Olivia Clark, Rhiannon Roberts, Hayley Ladd, Gemma Evans, Lily Woodham (Josie Green 91’), Angharad James ©, Alice Griffiths (Hannah Cain 106’), Ceri Holland, Ffion Morgan (Mary McAteer 84’), Jess Fishlock, Rachel Rowe (Kayleigh Barton 84’)
Unused subs: Laura O’Sullivan-Jones, Safia Middleton-Patel, Mayzee Davies, Lois Joel, Charlie Estcourt, Mared Griffiths, Ella Powell, Carrie Jones
Goals: Jess Fishlock (39’), Ceri Holland (112’)
Slovakia
Mária Korenčiová ©, Andrea Horváthová, L’udmila Mat’avková, Kristína Košiková, Diana Bartovičová, Jana Vojteková, Sofia Škerdová (Laura Retkesová 65’), Martina Šurnovská (Kristína Panáková 77’), Mária Mikoljová (Patricia Fischerova 77’), Patrícia Hmírová (Tamara Moráková 65’), Darina Hrúziková (Klaudia Fabová 56’)
Unused subs: Marína Štefániková, Martina Geletová, Victoria Kaláberová, Aneta Surová, Katarína Vredíková, Michaela Ferencová, Andrea Bogorová
Yellows: Diana Bartovičová (75’)
