Wales end winless run with hard-fought victory over Switzerland

Wales ended their twelve-match winless run with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Switzerland in Spain.

Sophie Ingle had given Wales the lead, but they were pegged back immediately by Aurélie Csillag’s strike. Yet, goals either side of the break courtesy of Hannah Cain and Lily Woodham made Wales’ afternoon a bit more comfortable.

Iman Beney did pull one back for the Swiss after a defensive error, but in the end, Wales held on to record a win in their final game of 2025.

Wales manager Rhian Wilkinson elected to make four changes from the side that drew with South Korea on Friday. Safia Middleton-Patel, Mia Ross, Ceri Holland and Rachel Rowe all returned to the line-up. Olivia Clark, Lily Woodham, Rhiannon Roberts and Mared Griffiths the ones to drop out.

It was also a memorable day for both Holland and Ffion Morgan, who were winning their 50^th caps for Wales.

There were a host of notable names in the Swiss starting eleven. Former Arsenal midfielder Lia Wälti captained the side, while Barcelona youngster Sydney Schertenleib, along with Manchester City wonderkid Iman Beney, were also selected.

Both sides had early half opportunities to take the lead. Hannah Cain’s corner fell to Holland outside the box, but her curling strike went narrowly past the post. For the Swiss, Schertenleib found space in the box after a cut back from Noelle Maritz, but she blazed over the bar.

15 minutes in and it was Wales who broke the deadlock. Gemma Evans’ searching ball forward found Holland out on the left. Her exquisite first time cushioned cross into the box was headed upward by Viola Calligaris, and with Switzerland unable to clear, Sophie Ingle swooped in to nod home.

The lead, however, would only last three minutes. Géraldine Reuteler’s through ball cut through the entire Welsh defence as she found Aurélie Csillag. It looked like the Swiss forward had taken one touch too many, but somehow, she managed to fire the ball in at the near post.

Wales weren’t to be deterred by this setback, and despite having less possession, were looking the more likely to score. Rowe found space in the box to receive Cain’s pass, but she couldn’t keep her effort down.

But ten minutes before the break, Cymru’s second came. Ingle’s ball over the top was latched onto by Cain, and after taking one touch, the striker executed a cheeky lob over the onrushing keeper. The perfect way to end the half as far as Rhian Wilkinson was concerned.

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Wales don’t normally start halves quickly, but they needed less than a minute in the second half to add their third of the day. Cain’s driven cross into the box evaded everybody, and there lurking at the back post was Woodham, who slammed the ball home with her very first touch after coming on at the break.

As the second half progressed, Cymru looked comfortable. In all three parts of the pitch, everyone was doing their bit and they were nullifying anything Switzerland decided to throw at them.

What Wales couldn’t do was switch off and hand Switzerland a route back in, but with 19 minutes remaining, they did just that. Middleton-Patel played a heavy pass into Angharad James, and her ball across the box was intercepted by Beney. The City forward took her time in the box before finding the far corner. A very avoidable goal.

The goal stirred up some panic in the Welsh defence, which had looked solid for so long. A free kick into the Wales box found Beney, and despite being in a fair amount of space, the City winger volleyed wide.

After doing some long defensive stints, Wales did drive forward more at times in the final four minutes. The best opportunity to fell to substitute Mared Griffiths, but her powerful strike from the edge of the box flashed over the crossbar.

Switzerland threw more and more attackers on towards the end in a desperate attempt to salvage something from the game, but it was too little too late. After not picking up a win all year, Wales could finally celebrate a victory in their final game of 2025.

Next up for Rhian Wilkinson’s side will be a trip away to Czechia to kick-off their 2027 World Cup qualifying campaign. The game will take place on March 3^rd.

Player of the Match: Hannah Cain

So many Wales players stood out to me, in particular Ceri Holland, Sophie Ingle and Mia Ross, but I’m giving the nod to Hannah Cain. It’s not easy being an isolated striker against a top side, but Cain dragged Switzerland all over the pitch. And her goal? Glorious!

Wales

Safia Middleton-Patel, Gemma Evans, Hayley Ladd, Mia Ross, Ceri Holland (Esther Morgan 60’), Angharad James ©, Sophie Ingle (Rhiannon Roberts 76’), Ffion Morgan (Lily Woodham 46’), Carrie Jones (Laura Hughes 46’), Hannah Cain (Elise Hughes 61’), Rachel Rowe (Mared Griffiths 76’)

Unused subs: Olivia Clark, Poppy Lyons-Walker, Tianna Teisar, Charlie Estcourt, Mary McAteer, Ella Powell, Annie Wilding

Goals: Sophie Ingle (15’), Hannah Cain (35’), Lily Woodham (46’)

Yellows: Angharad James (84’)

Switzerland

Elvira Herzog, Nadine Riesen (Ana-Maria Crnogorčević 81’), Viola Calligaris (Laia Ballesté 46’), Noemi Ivelj, Noelle Maritz (Eseosa Aigbogun 90+2’), Riola Xhemaili (Leila Wandeler 81’), Géraldine Reuteler, Lia Wälti (Alisha Lehmann 66’), Sydney Schertenleib, Aurélie Csillag, Iman Beney (Leela Egli 90+1’)

Unsued subs: Livia Peng, Nadine Böhi, Svenja Fölmli, Coumba Sow, Meriame Terchoun, Smila Vallotto

Goals: Aurélie Csillag (18’), Iman Beney (71’)

(Featured Image: Ashley Crowden/FAW)