SM
Man Utd vs. PAOK: 7 hrs 2 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

Wales Euro 2022 hopes dashed despite victory over Belarus

:Headline: Result: Wales Euro 2022 hopes dashed despite victory over Belarus: ID:424678: from db_amp
Natasha Harding, Rachel Rowe and Jess Fishlock were on target for the Dragons in Newport.

Wales beat Belarus 3-0 but missed out on qualification for the European Women's Championship in 2022 as the Faroe Islands failed to deliver an upset in Northern Ireland.

First-half goals from Natasha Harding and Rachel Rowe and a Jess Fishlock penalty saw Wales end their Group C campaign in style at Rodney Parade.

But Wales knew their finals dream rested on the Faroe Islands producing a football miracle in Belfast, with Northern Ireland starting the night in second spot thanks to a superior head-to-head record over the Dragons.

The Faroe Islands had failed to score in six group games while conceding 37 goals and, yet remarkably with the game in Belfast kicking off 10 minutes earlier, led Northern Ireland as the Wales players took to the pitch in Newport.

That was as good as it got for Wales, however, as Northern Ireland swiftly equalised and romped home 5-1 to book a play-off spot by finishing second to runaway group winners Norway.

Wales manager Jayne Ludlow had been boosted before kick-off by Fishlock and Harding promising to extend their careers into the 2023 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Harding had already forced Belarus goalkeeper Nataliya Voskobovich into early action before the two veterans combined after 14 minutes to give Wales the lead.

Fishlock did well to reach the byline and cut the ball back for Harding, who finished at the second attempt after scuffing her initial effort.

Wales captain Sophie Ingle tested Voskobovich from 25 yards and Ffion Morgan headed Fishlock's cross against a post following another sweeping home move.

Rowe doubled Wales' lead after 34 minutes after playing a one-two with Angharad James and sending a superb curled effort past Voskobovich and into the far corner of the net.

It was Rowe's second goal for Wales with her first coming in the 1-0 away win in Belarus in October 2019.

Belarus' only first-half effort was a tame attempt from Anastasiya Shcherbachenia, but the visitors' captain was inches away from halving the deficit after 58 minutes.

Shcherbachenia's powerful 20-yard free-kick struck the underside of the crossbar and Anastasiya Novikova and Viktoriya Kazakevich failed to bundle in the rebound.

Wales made their most of their reprieve as Anastasiya Linnik tripped Harding after 71 minutes.

Fishlock comfortably converted her 30th international goal from the spot, and her first for three years, but Wales' qualification hopes had long since disappeared.

amp_article__424678 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2020-12-01 21:22:24:
html db last update - 2020-12-01 21:22:24 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html
Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .