Wales top group B1 of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 Brasil qualifying group after a 3-1 win against Czechia thanks to goals from Lily Woodham, Mared Griffiths and Gemma Evans.
The scene is set at the Cardiff City Stadium as Wales hope to edge one step closer to qualifying for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027. The Dragons entered the match with three wins and two draws under their belt, with the last encounter against Czechia seeing them both coming away with two goals a piece. Before the match, Sophie Ingle was presented with her 150th cap in front of players and fans.
Czechia won the coin toss, and after a restart of kick-off, the match was underway. Two and a half minutes in, Czechia made their first shot on target however the ball soared right over the crossbar. Shortly after this, Wales’ forwards were pressing high up, putting Lukasova, Czechia’s goalkeeper, under a lot of pressure and almost causing a slip up.
After only five minutes of play time, Czechia secured themselves a 1-0 lead. This came after a well timed long ball from Lukasova fell into the path of Khyrova, catching the Welsh defence off guard. This was almost countered by Wales directly after the reset, however the ball was claimed.
Just four minutes later, on her 50th cap Woodham earned back the lead with a stupendous strike, shortly after a corner that unfortunately for Wales amounted to nothing.
At the fifteen minute mark, Holland delivered a great ball into the box which came off a Czechia player and was subsequently awarded a corner. This was parried away by Lukasova and yet another corner was awarded which was also cleanly swept away.
Rhiannon Roberts made a run up the right side of the pitch but the ball was turned over to the opposition due to a foul. Twenty-one minutes in, a collision between Mared Griffiths and Lukasova as she claimed the ball saw complaints from teammates and a yellow card awarded to Griffiths.
Czechia attempted to make a break on the left hand side, with a shot that was claimed into the hands of Safia Middleton-Patel. A few minutes later, a corner was awarded to Wales which was parried away. Carrie Jones shot the loose ball just over the cross bar, signalling a water break as Czechia’s goalkeeper received treatment.
A wonderful over the top pass from Sophie Ingle saw Griffiths in on goal but this was stopped by the oppositions goalkeeper and went out for a corner. Lukasova got her gloves to it however there was still a scramble in the box for the ball, which then fell to James-Turner who took a shot towards goal just outside the penalty area.
The ball was played into Holland who crossed it into the box, finding Griffiths who took a shot that deflected off the back of the opposition. Wales were awarded yet another corner which Woodham took.
Around the forty minute mark, Kotrcova took a shot from just outside the penalty area, which Middleton-Patel dove for, making a tremendous save.
Shortly after, Lukasova had been caught off her line, and Wales made a run to try and capitalise on this but to no avail. In the final few minutes of the first half, Wales had a few chances, particularly attacking up the right side, but they didn’t amount to a goal.
Second half-
Just a few minutes after half time, Wales secured a corner which was whipped in by Ceri Holland and Gemma Evans rose to the challenge, heading the ball into the back of the net making it 2-1.
The ball consistently stayed up Czechia’s half of the pitch for a substantial period of time as Wales largely took control of the game. A throw in taken by Czechia was dispossessed and fell towards Ceri Holland who drove it up towards the middle of the pitch. Wales settled and took control of the tempo, utilising Middleton Patel, they began to play out from the back.
As the 64th minute came around the first substitutions started rolling in with Polaskova off for Strizova and Hanna Cain off for Laura Hughes.
It became a third for the Dragons in the 71st minute as Ceri Holland and Mared Griffiths joined up once again, a duo that has been consistently looking for each other behind the defence several times in this game.
In the 77th minute, more substitutions followed for both teams. Mared Griffiths, Carrie Jones and Lily Woodham off for Elise Hughes, Rachel Rowe and Ffion Morgan; Kotrcova and Zufankova off for Krejcirova and Cvrckova.
Czechia earned themselves a free kick still safely away from the penalty area after a foul. Laura Hughes and Holland formed the wall and the ball was safely headed away by James-Turner.
Czechia were awarded a corner, taken by Sonntagova, playing it short as they tried to find a near post opening. In quick succession Czechia were awarded yet another corner, which was taken by the goalscorer Khyrova this time, and was safely punched away by Middleton-Patel.
In the 90th minute, the final substitutions of the game consisted of Sophie Ingle off for Mia Ross.
The final whistle blew and Wales were victorious, winning the game 3-1 and subsequently topping group B1 with 14 points. The 17th of June is a date to look out for as this is the date both teams will find out who they play in the knockouts!
Attendance- 5,607
Wales- Starting XI
Goalkeeper: Safia Middleton Patel
Defenders: Lily Woodham, Rhiannon Roberts, Sophie Ingle, Gemma Evans
Midfielders: Carrie Jones, Mayzee Davies, Angharad James
Forwards: Ceri Holland, Hannah Cain, Mared Griffiths
Substitutes: Olivia Clark, Charlie Estcourt, Elise Hughes, Lois Joel, Esther Morgan, Ffion Morgan, Phoebie Poole, Ella Powell, Mia Ross, Rachel Rowe
Czech Republic- Starting XI
Goalkeeper: Olivie Lukasova
Defenders: Eva Bartonova, Lucie Bendova, Eliska Sonntagova, Antonie Starova, Aneta Polaskova
Midfielders: Franny Cerna, Klara Cahynova, Katerina Kotrcova
Forwards: Michaela Khyrova, Jana Zufankova
Substitutes: Klara Cvrckova, Aneta Dedinova, Radka Hlouchova, Vanesa Jilkova, Nela Krejcirova, Lucie Kroupova, Aneta Pochmanova, Barbora Polcarova, Sabina Strizova, Anna Subrtova, Barbora Votikova