Cardiff City Stadium, 4th April 2025
Nations League A, Group 4
A beautiful Spring evening in Cardiff saw Cymru take on Denmark in the Nations League. Cymru’s last home game before they head off to Switzerland for the Women’s Euros. That feels so good writing that, I will write it again…. before they head off to Switzerland for the Women’s Euros.
Denmark who are currently 12th in the World Rankings were another tough opponent. Cymru have dropped a place to 31st.
The Danes made four changes to the side that beat Italy 3-1, while Cymru made five changes from the 1-1 draw with Sweden. Hannah Cain, Rhiannon Roberts, Lily Woodham, Ffion Morgan and Rachel Rowe all returned to the Starting XI. The home side were hoping for a better result than the last time they played Denmark two years ago, when they lost 5-1.
The match started with both teams attacking, with Denmark having more of the ball and looking more likely to score. In the seventh minute, a Cymru attack was easily ended and after nine passes between the Danish back four and their keeper, the ball made it out to Katrine Veje on the left wing. A quick one-two with Josefine Hasbo and then onto Janni Thomsen who took the ball forward and crossed towards the box/ After a slight touch by Pernille Harder, the ball landed at the feet of Signe Bruun whose first time shot beat Olivia Clark from 11 yards. A well worked goal that involved 13 passes before reaching the left foot of Bruun.
Cymru stayed in the game after the goal, with both sides pushing forward. Then after 35 minutes a Lily Woodham corner bounced around the box, and after a couple of failed attempted clearances, the ball made it out to the left hand side to Ceri Holland/ She sent the ball back to the edge of the box, before Cymru worked the ball out to the right hand side. There a Rhiannon Roberts cross missed everyone in the box but made it back out to Ceri Holland who cut back inside and fired high into the roof of the net, 1-1.
Both sides created chances for the rest of the match, Denmark having the better of these but were (initially) completely wasteful. Then with 20 minutes to go Cymru had their best chance since their goal. A long ball over the top was met by Hannah Cain who took the ball into the box. A low shot forced the Danish keeper Maja Bay Østergaard into a good save. Unfortunately, 23 seconds later the ball was crossing the Cymru goal line.
After a couple of quick passes down the left, the ball was played into the middle where Emma Strøm Snerle was fouled but managed to put a through ball to Juventus striker Amalie Vangsgaard. The ref waved play-on as the ball made it to the striker who slotted the ball past Olivia Clark to make it 2-1. Despite a few chnaces Cymru could not come back a second time and the Danes’ inflicted. Rhian Wilkinson’s first defeat on Welsh soil.
Despite the result, Cymru have come a long way in the two years since the teams last met. Denmark knew they were in a game this time. Still plenty of positives for Cymru to take from this game against a team much higher in the rankings.
There was one major negative, a painful injury to Ceri Holland, who was stretchered off in tears with her leg in a protective boot. Fingers crossed that she will be ok for the Euros in just over three months. Best wishes to Ceri.
Words and photos by @StephenJBaker