Wales created history in Dublin, beating Ireland to seal their maiden qualification into a major women's tournament. Before a sell-out 25,832 crowd, the Welsh flexed muscle, showed resilience, and rode their luck to punch their ticket to Euro 2025 in Switzerland.
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Goals from Hannah Cain and Carrie Jones, with a brilliant performance from Lily Woodham, saw the 2-1 win erase years of heartbreak and seal Wales' status on the European soccer stage.
Balance and tension
The game started off just as expected: physical, tense, and packed with emotion. Both teams knew this was more than just a qualification into a tournament; it was an opportunity to rewrite history.
Just 14 minutes in, Jess Fishlock tested Irish goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan with a dangerous volley, but it was Ireland that came closest to scoring. Denise O'Sullivan fired a stunning shot that smashed off the crossbar, while Katie McCabe, ever a threat, unleashed powerful long-range attempts.
Wales, meanwhile, sought to exploit set plays. A well-placed free kick by Lily Woodham was saved by Brosnan and within a minute the Irish goalkeeper denied Rhiannon Roberts from point-blank range after a corner.
With clear chances for both sides, the score was level at the break, but the temperature had risen.
Turning points and comebacks
The game was decisive just after the restart. Indeed, in the 50th minute, VAR confirmed handball in the box through Anna Patten, and from the spot, Wales scored their first. Hannah Cain coolly went the other direction from Brosnan to score her nation's first goal of the evening.
The goal pushed Ireland to adopt a more aggressive approach, leaving gaps at the back. Cain nearly doubled the lead in the 55th minute, narrowly missing a perfect cross from Rachel Rowe.
In the 64th minute, Wales faced a setback when Jess Fishlock, one of their key players, left the field with an injury. However, her replacement, Carrie Jones, wasted no time making an impact. Just two minutes after coming on, Jones latched onto a perfect through ball from Woodham and struck a stunning shot from outside the box, giving Wales a commanding 2-0 lead.
The final drama
A 2-0 lead, and it seemed Wales was cruising to victory, but Ireland wasn't done. In the 85th minute, Anna Patten scored with a header from a McCabe corner, reigniting Irish hopes.
The final minutes were relentless. Ireland poured on the pressure with long balls and blocked shots, but Rhiannon Roberts emerged as the hero, making two critical defensive stops to deny certain goals.
Eight agonizing minutes of added time felt like an eternity for Wales, but the defense held firm. When the final whistle blew, the joy was immediate and overwhelming.
A new era for Welsh soccer
The victory in Dublin marks more than just a qualification; it signals a new chapter for women's soccer in Wales. After years of hard work and perseverance, the team has finally earned its place among Europe's elite.
This victory is a triumph not only in the present but also an assurance for the future as it will inspire young girls throughout Wales to dream big.