Cymru and New Zealand fought out a goalless draw in the soaring heat of Pinatar as part of preparations for September’s FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
Gemma Grainger started a strong side against the Ferns, with Carrie Jones taking the place of the missing Jess Fishlock in the centre of midfield. Cymru started brightly, and a mazy run by Rachel Rowe through the New Zealand defence was unfortunate not to end in a goal in the opening minutes, with Ceri Holland coming narrowly close to the ball sent across the goal mouth.
As the game progress, Natasha Harding came closest after seeing a 1-1 opportunity take the smallest of deflections away from goal.
Six changes in the second half gave opportunity for Grainger to explore the depth to her squad, with the likes of Lily Woodham, Megan Wynne and Ffion Morgan impressing out wide. In the closing stages of the match, the game could have gone either way with Cymru unable to find the end of several threatening crosses and Laura O’Sullivan pulling off an impressive save in the final few minutes of normal time to deny a New Zealand winner from Jacqui Hand’s header.
On Tuesday 6 September, Cymru will be playing for their first ever spot in the FIFA Women’s World Cup play-offs, and tickets for the match against Slovenia at the Cardiff City Stadium start at only £2 (group bookings) and £4 (individual bookings) for kids, available at faw.cymru/tickets.
Cymru: 1. Laura O’Sullivan, 5. Rhiannon Roberts, 14. Hayley Ladd (6. Josie Green 63’), 3. Gemma Evans, 13. Rachel Rowe (23. Ffion Morgan 63’), 4. Sophie Ingle © (22. Anna Filbey 77’), 8. Angharad James, 20. Carrie Jones (2. Lily Woodham 46’), 11. Natasha Harding (19. Megan Wynne 72’), 9. Kayleigh Green (7. Helen Ward 72’), 18. Ceri Holland.
Subs not used: 12. Olivia Clark, 21. Poppy Soper, 10. Chloe Bull, 15. Elise Hughes, 16. Georgia Walters, 17. Chloe Williams.
CYMRU 0-0 NEW ZEALAND
- 28 June 2022
- Pinatar Arena, Spain
International Friendly Match
