Green is spot on to secure Welsh victory
KAYLEIGH Green’s first-half penalty proved the difference as Wales edged a 1-0 victory over the Philippines in their opening match of their Pinatar Cup campaign.
The victory marked Wales’ first competitive win since suffering heartbreak in their World Cup qualifying play-off finale against Switzerland.
Green converted from the spot on the stroke of half-time after full-back Rhiannon Roberts was adjudged to have been brought down in the area after chasing a loose ball.
It was a fortunate end to an opening half that saw Wales enjoy plenty of possession but frustratingly lack a cutting edge against a disciplined Philippines defence.
Half-chances arrived through Rachel Rowe, Ceri Holland and Carrie Jones but to little avail, while Angharad James saw an early penalty shout waved away.
Gemma Grainger warned tweaks were inevitable in the lead-up to the Pinatar Cup and the opening match saw Wales manager hand keeper Safia Middleton-Patel her first start in lieu of long-serving Laura O’Sullivan.
Rachel Rowe was moved to midfield to take the place of an absent Jess Fishlock while Lily Woodham slotted into the left-back berth.
Elsewhere, Ceri Holland returned to the starting line-up before Hannah Cain and Esther Morgan were both brought into the mix shortly after the hour mark as they returned from respective long-term injuries.
But it was no vintage affair, with both teams struggling to create anything of real substance over the 90 minutes.
The second-half saw the game open up slightly as the Philippines showed more purpose in attack, but Wales’ painful dearth of finesse in the final third meant Green’s penalty was the only separator on the final whistle.
Wednesday night’s frustrations in front of goal were an elaboration of a theme from the last campaign.
In Wales’ six prior matches, the team had managed a return of just four goals.
Still, the Philippines, ranked 53rd in the world according to FIFA, will be at the summer’s Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, and Wales’ absence from the showpiece event will surely feel cruel given how much they comfortably dominated proceedings on the night.
Wales return to Pinatar Cup action tomorrowwhen they take Iceland at 7:30pm, followed by Scotland next Tuesday afternoon.