Slovakia 2-1 Cymru

Friday 25th October 2024

Futbalový Štadion NTC Poprad, Solvakia

Something many of us could only dream of for most of our lives was to see Cymru in Playoff matches. Now it happens seemingly every tournament and it doesn’t get any easier. The gut wrenching nerves get worse and worse. It’s never fun watching Cymru play but it’s our national duty to do so. Thankfully the Playoffs for Euro 25’ are over two legs, unlike the men’s Euros where it was one match to settle it all.

With Sophie Ingle already out, Cymru’s chances took another blow before kick off when the Starting XI was announced with the legendary Jess Fishlock on the bench. The first time that both of them were missing from a lineup for Cymru since 2019. In total Rhian Wilkinson made five changes from the last match. Olivia Clark returned in goal, with Josie Green in for Rhiannon Roberts. Ceri Holland in for Sophie Ingle and a new forward line with Rachel Rowe and Kayleigh Barton in for Fishlock and Mary McAteer.

Cymru flew out of the starting blocks, attacking from the off. With the first chance of the game falling to Charlie Escourt. A long cross from Angharad James looked like it was going to fly over everyones head, but somehow landed at Escourt’s feet. A snap volley produced a good near post save from Korenčiová in the Slovakian goal. After this nervy start Korenčiová had a relatively quiet match

Sadly it was over an hour before Cymru had another real chance. Despite it taking eight minutes for the home side to really venture into the Cymru half, all the big chances for the rest of the match fell to the Slovakians. The majority going to their number 10 Martina Surnovska.

The first of Surnovska’s chances came in the 17th minute when the ball landed to her, totally unmarked just behind the Penalty Spot. Thankfully she was only able to fire her shot over the bar. Maybe finding herself in so much space took her by surprise.

Ten minutes later a cross from the right hand side looked like it was going to find the head of Surnovska five yards out. But somehow Josie Green managed to get the slightest touch with head to clear the ball. The resulting corner give Surnovska another chance when a run into the box looked like it would produce a certain goal. This attack was quelled by excellent work for Olivia Clark who flew off her line to close down the angle, forcing Surnovska to shoot wide.

Again Cymru had to rely on the always excellent Olivia Clark, when after a poor touch from Ceri Holland let, yes you guessed it Surnovska through into the box where a right footed shot produced another great save from Clark. Seconds later Surnovska give someone else a chance when Maria Mikolajova who again was left unmarked looped a shot towards goal only to be parried away by Olivia Clark.

Over the last couple of years Olivia Clark has kept Cymru in matches, keeping scores low and protecting leads. Clark has always been a contender for Seren y Gêm in every match she plays for Cymru.

Somehow, Cymru went into the half time break 0-0. Hopes of a reset in the second half for Cymru lasted two minutes. A long ball down the right produced a cross into the box where Josie Green headed the ball past the oncoming Clark who was heading to the edge of the penalty area to collect the ball. Luckily they avoided a collision and Green managed to adjust and headed the ball just past the left hand post.

From the resulting corner the ball fell to the ubiquitous Surnovska. With the Cymru defence taking an age to react, she put the ball in the back of the net, giving Clark no chance and claiming a well deserved goal.

With 58 minutes on the clock Slovakia were awarded a free kick outside the box. Maria Mikolajova curled an excellent free kick into the top right hand corner making it two. Slovakia would have been wondering how it was only two!

Just after the hour, Rhian Wilkinson made a double substitution bringing on Jess Fishlock who Wilkinson would have been hoping to have kept wrapped in cotton wool for this match. Ffion Morgan also came on; another player who always puts in a great performance for the country.

The pair instantly made a difference, creating a great chance for Rachel Rowe with twenty minutes to go. Fishlock sent the ball out wide to Lily Woodham who passed inside the box when everyone was expecting her to shot. Rowe, though, agonisingly put the ball just wide.

Some relief came for Cymru in the last minute when the double substitutes combined again. Jess Fishlock’s through ball from midfield was met by Ffion Morgan. She’d made a great run, turned inside the box and with a fabulous finish, lifted it over the keeper into the right hand side of the goal. 2-1 Slovakia.

That goal keeps Cymru in the tie Going into Tuesday’s match in Cardiff two goals behind would have left Rhian Wilkinson’s team a mountain to climb. However, with Morgan’s excellent last minute goal, it’s very much game on.

Y Wal Goch needs to show up on mass on Tuesday to cheer the women on. They need the Red Wall to be the twelfth woman in the Cardiff City Stadium. Pob lwc Merched Cymru!

Our thanks to Stephen @StephenJBaker for the match write-up. Finger nails survive Stephen?

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