NORWAY WOMEN.............1 WALES WOMEN.................0
WALES suffered a setback in their bid to qualify for the women’s European Championships as they were beaten 1-0 by group leaders Norway.
Chelsea star Guro Reiten’s firsthalf goal was the difference between the two sides as the Norwegians made it five wins from five in Group C.
It means Wales are now seven points adrift after their first defeat of the qualifying campaign, but they remain in second spot, which will be good enough for at least a play-off spot ahead of the tournament in 2022.
However, Belarus’s 2-0 victory in the Faroe Islands puts them just two points behind Jayne Ludlow’s side with a game in hand. Rivals Northern Ireland are a point further back.
Wales have three qualifiers remaining against Norway, Faroe Islands and Belarus – all behind closed doors at home.
Ludlow’s team produced a strong display against World Cup quarterfinalists Norway, but they came unstuck in the 28th minute as goalkeeper Laura O’Sullivan’s missed punch from a short corner move proved decisive, with Reiten’s floated ball finding its way into the net.
Natasha Harding fired one opportunity over the bar for Wales, while Jess Fishlock, returning after an 18-month absence, also tested the goalkeeper in an encouraging display after so long out.
The prolific Caroline Graham Hansen, who had scored 10 goals in four games, looked to have doubled the home side’s lead on the hour mark but her superb strike was ruled out for offside.
Wales pressed for an equaliser as the game wore on, with Rhiannon Roberts’s dangerous delivery almost finding Kayleigh Green with just over 15 minutes left.
Rachel Rowe, who had earlier cleared off her own goal line, saw a late effort blocked, while Fishlock headed wide and there was a late shout for a Welsh penalty after the ball appeared to strike a Norwegian arm.
The nine group winners and the three best runners-up (not counting results against the sixth-placed team) qualify directly for the final tournament, which is being staged in England, while the remaining six runners-up advance to the playoffs.