Iceland 1-0 Cymru
Nations League Group A3
Laugardalsvollur, Reykjavik
Friday 22nd September 2023
Stephen @stephenjbaker) takes a look at a disappointing night for Cymru.
The historic first match in the Women’s Nations League for Cymru, took place in a cold Reykjavik. Iceland playing in all blue, with Cymru playing in the stunning white and green kit. Come on FAW put in on general sale in all sizes. Both sets of players wearing wristbands saying #SeAcabo (It’s Over) in a show of solidarity with Spain’s World Cup winning team after actions of Luis Rubiales.
Cymru started brightly with the first 10 minutes being almost entirely spent in the Icelandic half. Cymru freely passing the ball between the half way line and the edge of the penalty area. But unfortunately there was no final product. Iceland barely touched the ball and did not have a shot until the 11th minute which did not trouble Olivia Clark in the Cymru goal.
The first real chance of the first half fell to Iceland at the quarter of an hour mark/. A cross from the right hand side was parried by Clark towards the left hand corner of the six yard box where it was met by Sandra Jenssen, whose shot was excellently cleared off the line by Rhiannon Roberts.
Again it was all Cymru for the next few minutes until Iceland won a corner on the 18’ minute mark. A short corner produced a cross just outside the six yard box where it met the head of the captain Glodis Perla Viggosdottir leaving Olivia Clark no chance in the Cymru goal. Viggosdottir netting a goal on her 115th cap.
After a positive opening 18 minutes for Cymru it was a frustrating goal to concede, with the goal scorer left unmarked. The rest of the half was played in the Icelandic half, plenty of possession but nothing in front of goal. There was an unusual stoppage in the 23rd minute where the game was stopped for the referee to be substituted. Original ref Katalin Kulcsar seemed to half pulled a muscle and was replaced by Fourth Official Ester Urban.
The Second half went the same way, with Cymru with most of procession (62% in total) and territory. As with the first half there was nothing in the way of good chances in front of goal (two on target out of seven). Rachel Rowe and Ffion Morgan came off the bench and things picked up for Cymru. But the match ended frustratingly with 14th in the world rankings Iceland beating 29th place Cymru one goal to nil.
Now on to Cardiff on Tuesday for the second match of the Nations League where Cymru takes on Denmark in front of Y Wal Goch.
Cymru Starting Eleven
opening and social media image courtesy of Kilgarron https://www.flickr.com/photos/kilgarron/39513392942