Wales 2-0 Slovakia: Three 9s and three 8s as Wales keep Euros dream alive

Wales needed an extra time winner from Ceri Holland to advance past Slovakia and keep their Euro 2025 dreams alive.

After Jess Fishlock brought the tie level with a delightful chip over the keeper, Ceri Holland scored in the 112^th minute to book a showdown with the Republic of Ireland in the playoff final.

Here’s how we rate the performance of every player who stepped out at Cardiff City Stadium against Slovakia.

WALES PLAYER RATINGS

Olivia Clark: 5/10

The player of the match out in Poprad, Clark really didn’t have much to do throughout this game. In the rare moments she was called into action, she came out and claimed the ball magnificently from crosses and corners. While she may not have been involved much in Cardiff, she is a big reason why Wales having gotten through.

Rhiannon Roberts: 8/10

Roberts came in tonight and was outstanding from start to finish. What Wales were perhaps lacking on Friday was some physicality and some direction in the defence, but Razza added all that and more tonight. A very controlled performance from the Betis star, who showed how important she is to this side as a whole.

Rhian Wilkinson commented: “Rhiannon was fantastic, but so were the rest of the back three. It’s a thankless job, you run a lot, and you have to keep the line up. Razza came in and delivered, she was huge for her team today.”

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Hayley Ladd: 6/10

While Ladd did make some odd decisions at times, what I enjoyed about her game was the way she swept up. She was very good positionally and making sure Slovakia couldn’t run in behind, however, you do feel like there are more levels to her game. Will that come with more game time at club level? Who knows.

Gemma Evans: 8/10

With Ladd in the middle as more of the playmaking defender, Roberts and Evans are maybe a bit more of a traditional centre-back, and my word she was excellent. Tracking back and making terrific sliding tackles, she was the answer whenever Slovakia posed questions to this Wales defence.

Lily Woodham: 9/10

Woodham looked a little shy on Friday and wasn’t able to really impose herself on her opponent. Tuesday was very different. Always a thorn in the Slovakian defence, Woodham was direct in her running and put in good delivery after good delivery. She also complimented the likes of Ceri Holland and Rachel Rowe well, and being able to link up with those forward players is so important in her position. Subbed off 91^st minute.

Rhian Wilkinson commented: “Lily can disappear sometimes in games, and it’s not because of a lack of talent. Sometimes I just want her to grab the game, and she really did that tonight. She didn’t shy away from a very meaningful game where lesser players go missing. I was really impressed with her performance.”

Angharad James: 7/10

Let’s begin with that pass. Goodness gracious me! That is vintage Angharad James. All in all, a solid performance from the captain. Sat in a bit more in this game and acted like a little general in the middle of the park, but when James performs, Wales as a whole normally perform.

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Alice Griffiths: 8/10

Stepping into a role vacated by a legend like Sophie Ingle is a daunting prospect for anyone, however, Griffiths has shown in these early stages that she’s up for the challenge. What she was very good at yesterday was driving out of the midfield. Her moving out allowed those in front of her to make good runs, and more often than not, the Saint would find them. Subbed off 106^th minute.

Angharad James commented: “Alice is great. She’s someone I really admire. She’s worked so hard to be where she is, and she game on and changed the game on Friday night, so she deserved to start tonight. She built herself into the game and she’s calm, like Sophie, and she gives us the stability we need. I can’t thank her enough, because she left absolutely everything on that field.”

Ceri Holland: 9/10

After putting in a rare below par performance in Poprad, Holland was well and truly back to her best in the second leg. She grew into the game slowly, but she operated at a level not many others were. She made the wing her own, and her goal was fully deserved. Holland has played in a number of positions under Wilkinson, but I feel wing-back is where she’s able to make the most impact on the game.

Rhian Wilkinson commented: “All of my players, I ask them to do some different things to what they do at club level, and they do it. They’re passionate Welsh women, and they do whatever is asked of them. Ceri is a wonderful example of that. When she played wing-back today, she worked her way into a really good performance.”

Rachel Rowe: 6/10

Rowe didn’t get the headlines or the chances that others did, but she did free up space by making smart runs that confused Slovakia. It did look like she had to come deep in order to have an influence on the game, and while this double header may not have been her best, she is still an integral part of this team. Subbed off 84^th minute.

Ffion Morgan: 7/10

Oh, it could really have been an astonishing display from Morgan. Her speed is frightening, and no defender at any level will want to try and stop her. The runs she makes in behind are spectacular, and she can get on the end of whatever is thrown at her. But her finishing wasn’t stellar. She could have had a hat-trick, but in the end, she left empty handed. However, it was a good performance from the Bristol City star. Subbed off 84^th minute.

Jess Fishlock: 9/10

What more is there to say about Fishlock? Having not played for a month and a half, to play 120 minutes and put in the performance she did is simply super-human. Her finish was exquisite, her touch was perfect, her vision was sublime. It really is hard to think what a Wales team without Fishlock would look like.

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Mary McAteer: 6/10

Subbed on 84^th minute. Often, we see Wilkinson ask players to play out of position, and it was no different for McAteer. For someone so used to playing up front, playing in midfield must have been a very strange experience. While there were a few loose touches, McAteer did very well and never lost composure.

Kayleigh Barton: 6/10

Subbed on 84^th minute. As a manager, you want your substitutes to make an impact, and Barton did just that. For a little while it looked like the game might get away from her, but her darting run opened up the Slovakia defence, and she played a big part in getting the winning goal.

Josie Green: 5/10

Subbed on 91^st minute. Came on in place of Woodham, and had a tricky task to match her impact. While she didn’t have the same affect going forward, defensively, she held her own and helped Wales over the line.

Hannah Cain: N/A

Subbed on 106^th minute. Wasn’t on the field long enough to make an impact, but great to see her back. Having suffered three serious injuries before the age of 25, it’s simply incredible to see that she keeps picking herself up and getting back to the international stage.

Rhian Wilkinson: 8/10

Wilkinson knew things needed to change from the first leg, and she got almost all of her decisions right. Adding more experience into the eleven was a needed and smart choice, while her substitutes were also good. However, it is a little concerning how many square pegs in round holes she is using.

(Featured Image: Ashley Crowden/FAW)