WALES 3-0 ISRAEL
UEFA Women’s EURO 2017 Qualifier, Group 8
Thursday, 15 September 2016
Rodney Parade, Newport
Israel may have been bottom of Group 8 but had held Wales to a 2-2 draw in their home tie last December.
Wales’ hopes of qualification ended in June following a 2-0 defeat to Norway, but manager Jayne Ludlow was keen for her side to bring the current campaign to a close on a positive note in the first of their final two fixtures.
Wales had the better of the early exchanges and took the lead when Reading’s Helen Ward finished in style on 16 minutes.
A yellow card for defender Hayley Ladd briefly dented Wales’ rhythm but their confidence was restored when Sophie Ingle showed all her defensive qualities to deny Lee Sima Falkon with a last-ditch tackle when the Israeli forward appeared to be through on goal.
On 33 minutes the lead was doubled when Helen Ward scored her second of the game after latching onto a ball from Rachel Rowe. Wales continued to dominate, and Nadia Lawrence headed over from a Natasha Harding cross as the opening half came to a close.
A collision between Kayleigh Green and Israeli goalkeeper Merav Shamir resulted in the Wales striker being replaced at half-time by Charlie Estcourt, but Wales continued where they had left off with Jess Fishlock trying her luck from distance following the re-start.
Then, on 59 minutes, Estcourt extended Wales’ lead after some excellent work from Natasha Harding in the Israeli area, with a fine finish.
Wales were good value for their lead and should have increased their advantage on 85 minutes when Harding was fouled in the area by Michal Ravitz and Shamir saved from Fishlock’s penalty.
And so it finished 3-0, a comfortable victory ahead of the tougher challenge of Austria, again at Rodney Parade (Newport) on Tuesday, to bring their qualification campaign to a close.
WALES: Skinner (GK), Rowe, Evans, James, Ladd, Ingle (c), Harding, Lawrence, Green, Fishlock, Ward.
Subs: O’Sullivan (GK), Roberts, Estcourt, Fletcher, Chivers, Davies, Miles.
Goals: Ward (16, 32), Estcourt (59).
(With thanks to www.faw.cymru/en/)
