International Recap: Wales Battles to 1-1 Draw with Slovenia
Slovenia vs. Wales
The No. 34 ranked Wales women’s national team battled to a 1-1 draw against the No. 49 ranked Slovenia at Športni Park Lendava, in Lendava, Slovenia on Friday. OL Reign midfielder Jess Fishlock started and played all 90 minutes of the match.
Wales started on the front foot, having a couple quick and quality offensive plays. In just the third minute of the match, Fishlock was shoved in the box and appealed for a penalty kick, but play went on. Wales had a promising opportunity when Fishlock played a ball into Natasha Harding, but Slovenia’s Lana Golob made a great challenge to deny Wales.
As the game progressed, Slovenia began to create more opportunities of their own, but Wales did well to defend. At the other end of the field, Wales nearly took the lead when Angharad James played a perfectly placed free kick into Rhiannon Roberts’ head, but Slovenian goalkeeper Mersnik was there to make the save.
Slovenia began to create more opportunities at the other end, but Wales defended resolutely, before missing a wonderful opportunity to take the lead when goalkeeper Mersnik saved Rhiannon Roberts' header from close-range after Angharad James' fantastic free kick.
Before the end of the match, Slovenia found a good opportunity if their own. Captain Mateja Zver took advantage of a miscommunication between Roberts and Wales’s goalkeeper Laura O'Sullivan. In the 42nd minute but fired her shot high.
At the start of the second half, Slovenia began to gain more control of the match. Wales still managed to produce a few chances. Notably, in the 67th minute, Fishlock's headed Holland's cross toward goal, but hit the roof of the net.
Wales paid the price for not finishing any of their chances throughout the game, when they failed to clear the ball of danger and substitute Manja Rogan fired home her 69th minute shot to give Slovenia the lead.
However, Wales responded just two minutes later off a free kick. James served the ball in and Green was able to get her head on the end of it. The mood quickly switched for Wales following their goal, as Green was sent off the field just two minutes later after receiving a second yellow card for a lunging tackle on Mersnik.
The physical match ended in a 1-1 draw and the teams split the points. Wales plays another World Cup qualifying match against No. 105 ranked Estonia at Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff, Wales at 11:15 a.m. PT on Tuesday, October 26.