Wales’ dream of reaching their first ever FIFA Women’s World Cup were ended by Switzerland moments away from a penalty shoot-out in Zurich.
Gemma Grainger’s side made a great start and were ahead inside 20 minutes via an Angharad James corner. Kayleigh Green got in an important header, before Rhiannon Roberts turned the ball into the bottom corner.
The lead was almost held to half-time but Noelle Maritz’s cutback was whipped past Laura O’Sullivan by Ramona Bachmann for the equaliser.
Wales survived two massive scares in the second half, the first when a VAR decision saw a penalty awarded against Rachel Rowe for handball, Ana-Marie Crnogorčević hitting the post from the spot with her follow-up disallowed as no-one else had touched the ball in-between.
The second massive relief came when another VAR decision scrubbed off another Bachmann effort for offside.
However, the decisive blow arrived deep into extra-time, Rachel Rinast’s cross squeezed in at the near post by Fabienne Humm.
