The Ford Football Ferns closed out their two game European tour this morning with a 0-0 draw against Wales at Pinatar Arena in Spain.

After a strong performance, despite ending in defeat, against world number 11 Norway, the Ferns we looking to build on the positive attacking play on display from the game in Oslo.

Head coach Jitka Klimková only named one change to the previous XI, with Malia Stenmetiz coming in for Betsy Hassett, and continued with the 4-4-2 formation first used against the Norwegians.

Wales, ranked number 31 by FIFA, were playing their first game of the window after a training camp in Spain.

The game started with the Ferns on top, having the better of the possession and in the 12th minute they had a chance to take the lead. The ball fell to Annalie Longo after a scramble in the box but her shot was blocked from close range. 

In the 19th minute Wales had their own chance to go ahead. Natasha Harding cut inside from the right wing and fired across goal just wide.

Further chances fell to Liz Anton and Meikayla Moore to test Laura O'Sullivan in the Wales net but it ended goalless at the break.

The second half saw the Ferns continue to push for the opener, with Rebekah Stott firing just over the bar from a corner in the 55th minute.

As the second half unfolded substitutes Betsy Hassett, Kate Taylor, Gabi Rennie, Grace Jale, Jacqui Hand and, making her Ford Football Ferns debut, Ally Green, were introduced to freshen things up in the Spanish heat.

At the death, Jacqui Hand had the chance to win it. Grace Jale’s cross found the head of Hand but a brilliant save by the Welsh keeper tipped it over the bar.

The Ferns had the better of the match, with Wales looking to play more on the counter, but it ended 0-0.

Following the match, head coach Jitka Klimková highlighted the development of the team in the last couple of games, despite not being able to claim the win:

“The clean sheet is positive. I think we had some good moments in the game. But overall today’s performance was a little bit lower verses our performance against Norway.

“But we know what we have done between those games. We travelled from Norway to here. We had only one day for recovery and one training session and then back to play this tough opposition.

“I could see from our girls a bit of fatigue so that kind of possession that we are building, that we want to improve, wasn’t great today but our high press, our defending was very positive and we created a couple of chances that could have gone our way and then we would be very happy with today’s game. Unfortunately we hit the cross bar and it didn’t go in but this is football.

“So we keep believing that our time is coming. We are improving. Overall the tour is very successful.”

Starting XI

Victoria Esson

Elizabeth Anton (58’ Ally Green)

Claudia Bunge

Meikayla Moore

Rebekah Stott [C] (64’ Kate Taylor)

Katie Bowen (82’ Jacqui Hand)

Olivia Chance (82’ Grace Jale)

Malia Steinmetz (58’ Betsy Hassett)

Annalie Longo

Paige Satchell

Hannah Wilkinson (64’ Gabi Rennie)

Article added: Wednesday 29 June 2022