U-Power Stadium, Monza, Italy
Friday 21st February 2025
Cymru kicked off their return to the top tier of international football, taking on Italy in Monza. The Italians ranked 13th in the world with Cymru now ranked 30th. Around 4,500 fans were in attendance, some 50 Cymru fans made it over to Monza for the match.
Embed from Getty ImagesIt was a big night for two Cymru stars, Mayzee Davies made her first start and Hayley Ladd, captain for the night made her 100th appearance for Cymru. Long term injured player Sophie Ingle was still missing, along with Rachel Rowe. Elise Davies made it back into the squad.
Embed from Getty ImagesItaly started the match well, the Italians showed why they are unbeaten in seven matches. Taking control early and managing all the possession in the first five minutes. This pressure led to the second corner of the game, delivered by Manuela Giugliano into the centre of the goal. There the ball was met by Barbara Bonansea of Juventus on the edge of the six yard box. She headed the ball down, almost too close to Olivia Clark to do anything about it, and into the back of the net for her 31st international goal for Italy.
Embed from Getty ImagesFive minutes later, with Italy still in complete control, Cristian Girelli hit the crossbar with a header. Olivia Clark produced a couple of good saves during that passage of play, though.
Things were looking bad for Cymru after the nightmare start, but they slowly found their feet. 22 minutes into the first half Cymru had their first chance of the game. When Angharad James had a chance out of nowhere when she chipped the Italian keeper from outside the box, just clipping the crossbar leaving their goalkeeper scrambling.
Embed from Getty ImagesCymru took more control of the first half, having more chances but just missing that final product. They ended the first half having 52% of the possession.
Changes were made for the second half with the excellent Ffion Morgan coming on for Carrie jones. The first ten minutes of the second half were spent almost entirely in the Italian half, but unfortunately it was just a series of disappointing free kicks from Cymru.
The legend Jess Fishlock came off after 70 minutes. With one eye on the Euros this summer, her season in America hasn’t started yet, so it was a case of managing her minutes. Lois Joel replaced her, along with Mared Griffiths for Ceri Holland. The seventeen-year-old Griffiths was making her debut for Cymru, being the second teenager on the pitch tonight for Cymru.
Embed from Getty ImagesAfter all the changes from both sides Italy came back into the match, nothing really troubling Clark in goal though. That was until ten minutes to go, when a cross to the far post was headed at point blank range, only for Clark to produce an excellent save. What a player Olivia Clark has become!
Two minutes later Michela Cambiaghi ran on to a ball over the top running, the length of the Cymru half. It looked a certain goal until Rhiannon Roberts started to move Cambiaghi out wide, causing her shot to go across goal and wide of the post. Cymru were caught out again a few minutes later with the exact same through ball.
Embed from Getty ImagesItaly peppered the Cymru goal in the final minutes of the game. Somehow it stayed 1-0, despite the Italians’ 19 attempts on the Cymru goal
Despite losing, there were a lot of positives for Rhian Wilkinson to take back home. To go toe to toe with one of the World powerhouses and come away a little unlucky not to have gained a point. Cymru can hold their heads up high after this game and look forward to playing Sweden in Wrexham on Tuesday.
@StephenJBaker with the roundup.