02:28
football, Women's World Cup Qualifying
Wales held firm to reach the World Cup play-offs for the first time thanks to a 0-0 draw against Slovenia on a nerve-shredding night in Cardiff. Teenager Carrie Jones came closest for Wales with several fine efforts, while home goalkeeper Laura O'Sullivan had to be alert to deny Mateja Zver. Wales knew a point was enough to see them finish second and they kept their defensive discipline throughout. They might even have won it, but Gemma Evans' header was superbly saved. This was a night on which Wales knew they had history in their grasp, having never before been within a point of qualifying for the play-offs. It was already a celebratory night in the Welsh capital with the crowd of 12,741 more than doubling Wales' record attendance of 5,445. Perhaps even more significantly, Wales' first home game of the campaign was watched by just 1,700 supporters, with the atmosphere - enhanced by Wales' fans' brass band - as loud as it has been for a Wales women's match. Wales boss Gemma Grainger opted to field the same side that won in Greece on Friday, albeit in a less than convincing manner than some of their previous performances in the campaign. That meant their most-capped player, Jess Fishlock, who picked up an injury on camp, was left on the bench in a 'break glass in case of emergency' scenario, as talented teen Jones kept her place following her goal in Volos.
2022-09-06
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