Rowe in dream return with winner for Wales

RACHEL Rowe made a dream comeback after a year out through injury as she scored the matchwinning goal to maintain Wales’ hopes of qualifying for Euro 2021, writes KATIE SANDS.

The clash against Belarus saw Rowe return to international duty for the first time following a year out with an ACL injury, and it was her 82nd-minute goal that secured the three points as Wales continue their unbeaten run, claiming seven points from an available nine from the campaign so far.

Rowe’s late, low left-footed shot proved the difference in a tightlycontested clash in Barysaw.

Wales have not been lucky with injuries heading into this campaign: The country’s most-capped footballer Jess Fishlock is out with a long-term injury, also an ACL, and won’t be back in a Welsh jersey before April, and, just as Rowe returned, Wales captain and Chelsea favourite Sophie Ingle had to withdraw due to injury.

Reading captain Natasha Harding pulled on the skipper’s armband for last night’s fixture, while Tottenham’s Anna Filbey started to get her first Wales cap.

Wales were denied a penalty when Harding broke through and was able to nick the ball beyond the lunging Voskobovich before being sent tumbling by the keeper, only for referee Tanja Subotic to wave play on.

The half ended with a flurry of chances, with Wales indebted to the reactions of Laura O’Sullivan who rushed from her goal to smother Anastasiya Kharlanova’s shot.

Wales continued to live dangerously after the restart and were fortunate that Shcherbachenia blazed over the bar with the goal at her mercy.

Wales went close again when Elise Hughes had the ball in the back of the net, but the Everton forward had drifted offside after Harding had clipped the post with a curling shot.

But, with eight minutes remaining, Rowe capped her return with a crucial winner after Rhiannon Roberts had made a nuisance of herself in the area from a corner.

The result keeps Wales second in Group C, two points behind leaders Norway, but crucially opens up a four-point gap over third-placed Belarus.