10 hours Ago
WALES women made history last night as they qualified for a first major tournament with a superb 2-1 win over the Republic of Ireland in their European Championship qualifying play-off final second leg in Dublin, writes Andrew Penman. After a nervy 1-1 draw in the first leg in Cardiff last Friday, it was another tense occasion at the Aviva Stadium as Wales had to withstand plenty of Irish pressure. But second-half strikes from Hannah Cain – via the penalty spot – and substitute Carrie Jones – following a rapid breakaway – gave Rhian Wilkinson’s team the aggregate victory and an historic place at Euro 2025 in Switzerland next summer.
Former Wales striker Helen Ward praised a “fantastic performance” in the second half. “The early penalty turned the game in our favour, but it was the right decision,” she added. “They’ve played the game really well, soaked up pressure when they’ve needed to.
” Joy for Wales looked a long way off during a first half dominated by the hosts. Denise O'Sullivan went closest to scoring early on when she hit the bar midway through the first half. Ireland captain Katie McCabe was perhaps fortunate to stay on the pitch after picking up an early booking for a lunge on Josie Green and then fouling Rachel Rowe just before the break.
The Arsenal player also went close to breaking the deadlock in the first half, firing just wide before Julie-Ann Russell was denied by a smart save from Olivia Clark. At the other end of the pitch, Ireland goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan had to be alert to keep out Lily Woodham’s free-kick and Green’s effort shortly afterwards. At half-time, the tie was on a knife-edge, but it swung decisively in Wales’ favour four minutes into the second half as the hosts gave them a big helping hand.
Woodham’s free-kick was handled by Anna Patten and referee Marta Huerta de Aza pointed to the spot after a VAR review. Cain showed nerves of steel to calmly roll the ball into an empty net as Brosnan helpfully dived in the opposite direction. The Leicester City forward could have had a second five minutes later, but she couldn’t quite reach a tempting cross from Rowe after fantastic work from the Southampton winger on the left flank.
Angharad James was then denied by Brosnan after a lightning quick counter-attack. But there was no stopping Jones after another quick counter in the 67th minute as she fired into the bottom corner from the edge of the area to make it 2-0 and put Wales on the brink of history. This being Welsh football, however, it couldn’t be that easy, and after Patten headed in for the hosts four minutes from time it set up a nail-biting finale.
But Wales somehow held on through eight agonising minutes of time added on, sparking wild celebrations from the travelling fans and Wilkinson and her players, who can now all look forward to a summer in Switzerland and a chance for the Welsh women to enjoy their own Euro 2016 moment..
