Wales secured a 1-1 draw with the Republic of Ireland at Cardiff City Stadium in the first leg of their Euro 2025 playoff final.
After Lily Woodham had initially given Wales the lead, Ruesha Littlejohn’s effort from distance was deflected into her own net by Olivia Clark, as both sides kept their Swiss hopes alive.
Here’s how we rate the performance of every Welsh player who set foot in front of a record-breaking crowd at Cardiff City Stadium.
WALES PLAYER RATINGS
Olivia Clark: 6/10
Questions will arise about the goal, but Clark made a great initial save to tip Littlejohn’s shot onto the bar but couldn’t quite keep it out for good. However, her save to deny Caitlin Hayes was simply top drawer.
Rhiannon Roberts: 8/10
This was a vintage Rhiannon Roberts performance. From a positional aspect, she was sublime, and never allowed Ireland’s quick wingers to get in behind. Aerially, she won everything. Her tackling was spot on, and she never let Wales down, and thoroughly deserved her Player of the Match award.
Rhiannon Roberts commented: “It is a little disappointing to come away with a draw. We feel like we could have stepped it up a gear, could have been a little braver on the ball at times, and it would have been nice to go into the next game ahead. It’s just a fresh game on Tuesday.
“We always knew this was going to be an aggressive game, a competitive game, and we know they like to make things scrappy in and around the first and second balls. We dealt with that really well, our midfield got around the second ball. Maybe we need to be a little calmer and braver on the ball, but there’s things to look over for Tuesday, and we’ll be ready to get the job done at their place.”
Hayley Ladd: 6/10
There’s still something about Hayley Ladd that’s not quite there. For so long, Ladd was the most consistent performer for Wales, and she would often be the standout. However, the Manchester United defender looked unsure at times, taking one or two touches more than usual, but I do think it’ll only take her one game to click back into the form we’ve come to expect from her.
Gemma Evans: 6/10
A mixed bag from Gemma Evans. When it came to clearances and making sure to sniff out danger, Evans was stellar. Yet, at times when under pressure from the Irish wingers, the Liverpool defender was sometimes left wanting, but overall, a solid display.
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Ceri Holland: 7/10
There aren’t many players who relish a battle with Irish captain Katie McCabe, but from minute one, Holland was up for it. Linking up well with Roberts again down the right, Holland took the game to the Arsenal veteran, and her pass to Jess Fishlock for the goal was excellent. Subbed off 80th minute.
Alice Griffiths: 6/10
Griffiths was utilised more as the combative central midfielder in the Wales lineup, and did a lot of good things. She didn’t shy away from a tackle, always looked to play the ball forward, and looked comfortable throughout the 45 minutes she was on the pitch. Subbed off at half time.
Angharad James: 6/10
Another player who had a mixed game. Angharad James was very busy in the midfield and really didn’t allow the likes of Lily Agg and Ruesha Littlejohn a lot of time on the ball, and she had a good partnership with Fishlock in the second half. However, she could have close Littlejohn down a lot quicker for their goal.
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Lily Woodham: 8/10
Lily Woodham is very quickly becoming a crucial part of Rhian Wilkinson’s system. The on-loan Crystal Palace wing-back never gave Heather Payne a moment of peace, and her relentless running opened up so much space down the left at times. And you certainly won’t bank against her scoring a goal out in Dublin! Subbed off 89th minute.
Lily Woodham commented: “It was a tough game, and we knew they’d be good competition for us. It was feisty, but we’ll look back on the game, review it, and head into Tuesday with a better performance.
“When the ball came in, all I thought was, just hit it. I aimed and just hoped I wouldn’t slice it, and thankfully I didn’t.
“The fans are just so important for us. Hearing them when we do well, when we need their support to push, they give us that adrenaline when we’re on that pitch, and they do really act like a twelfth player. We appreciate all the support.”
Jess Fishlock: 7/10
We didn’t see Jess Fishlock in an attacking position much, but her assist was spellbinding. But what we did see was her defensive capabilities, and they were incredible. Getting back, making crucial tackles, the Seattle Reign superstar really helped the backline, and was selfless in doing so.
Ffion Morgan: 5/10
When you’re a lone striker it is difficult facing up against a team who are playing three at the back. Morgan had to deal with a lot of scraps, and often had to make things happen on her own with darting runs in behind, and while she couldn’t quite test Courtney Brosnan enough, she gave it her all. Subbed off 71st minute.
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Rachel Rowe: 7/10
Whenever Rachel Rowe plays, you cannot fault her work rate. She tried so hard to find ways behind the defence but couldn’t quite make the ball stick. However, her recovery run at the end when Ireland countered was heroic, and denied the Irish a possible sighter on goal.
Carrie Jones: 7/10
Subbed on at half time. Under Wilkinson, we’ve waited for Carrie Jones to announce herself, and this was the game for her. The moment she outmuscled McCabe, you thought, this is a different Jones to what we’re used to. She held up the ball really well, made good runs, and could’ve scored at the end. Has to start on Tuesday night.
Kayleigh Barton: 5/10
Subbed on 71st minutes. Similarly to Morgan, Barton didn’t have much to work with and couldn’t really find her way in on goal. Physically she added a different dimension, but both strikers just couldn’t quite make things stick.
Josie Green: 5/10
Subbed on 80th minute. Josie Green came on at a time when the game was really scrappy, with neither side really able to have long spells of possession. We know how good a player she’s been for Wales, but this was just a difficult game to come into off the bench.
Charlie Estcourt: N/A
Subbed on 89th minute. Wasn’t on the field long enough to make an impact.
Rhian Wilkinson: 6/10
Plenty of things to like but plenty of things need improve to as far as Wilkinson is concerned. Bringing on Carrie Jones and moving Jess Fishlock back in the second half were good choices, but I think she needed to find better ways to hurt Ireland, especially when they looked vulnerable.
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