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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Mathew Davies

Greece 0-1 Wales Women: Carrie Jones winner hands Wales massive World Cup qualifying boost

Wales Women gave their World Cup qualifying hopes a huge boost with a 1-0 win over Greece in Volos.

A first-half goal from Carrie Jones handed the visitors all three points in a game they dominated from the first minute - albeit in nervy circumstances towards the end.

A point against Slovenia in the Welsh capital on Tuesday night will be enough for Gemma Grainger's team to secure second place in the group and earn a play-off spot.

READ MORE: Rob Page, Gemma Grainger and the special relationship at the heart of Welsh football

Wales headed into the game as firm favourites but were without Jess Fishlock at the Panthessaliko Stadium, who was named among the substitutes, with Grainger confirming the star had sustained a knock, possibly with an eye on Tuesday night's clash in Cardiff.

All the talk in the build-up was that this was just another fixture - "game nine", according to Grainger, and despite the magnitude of what was at stake, Wales settled well into the contest.

Patient play in the ninth minute saw Natasha Harding break well down the right, getting to the byline and crossing low into the six-yard box, which opposition captain Eleni Kakambouki nearly turned into her own net.

The hosts were defending extremely deep, happy enough to have eleven behind the ball. Rhiannon Roberts was next to find joy down the right, with her cross headed goalward by Ceri Holland, but it was looping rather than a directed effort.

Laura O'Sullivan and the Welsh backline were bystanders for the opening half hour or so, in a tie which resembled a game of defence vs attack at times early on. Midway through the first half Holland pounced on a Greek mistake and bore down on goal but her angled effort was pushed away by Zoi Nasi in the Greek goal.

Wales continued to probe but their threat remained frustrated. That all changed in the 34th minute when Jones poked home as the visitors went route one. Jones latched onto a nod-down and at the second attempt pushed the ball past Nasi.

The goal opened the game up but it was O'Sullivan who was called into action next, saving well with her feet from Eleni Markou.

The second half saw more of the same, with Wales enjoying all of the ball in the face of two banks of players. Jones tested the keeper early on but her header was straight down the throat of Nasi. Kayleigh Green did the same just before the hour mark, with Wales making the most of their aerial superiority. It was a tactic which was paying off, and Holland was the next to climb highest in the Greek box but she was adjudged to have fouled her opposite number.

Still, the hosts carried bit more of a threat than they did in the first half and Gemma Evans had to remain alert after a hit-and-hope ball over the top of the Welsh defence caused panic. With danger averted, Angharad James warmed the palms of Nasi at the opposite end when she shot from range as the game entered the final quarter.

A second goal would have really settled the nerves, which increasingly crept in in the last 15 minutes with Grainger resisting the temptation to make changes. And despite some heart-in-mouth moments - including six minutes' stoppage time - Wales held on for the win, with all eyes now set on Cardiff City Stadium next week.

Greece: Zoi Nasi, Maria Palama, Danai-Eleni Sidira, Eirini Nefrou; Vasiliki Giannaka, Athanasia Moraitou, Eleni Kakambouki (c), Maria Mitkou; Sofia Kongouli, Eleni Markou, Veatriki Sarri

Substitutes: Dimitra Giannakouli, Anthi Papakonstantinou, Christianna Kiamou, Maria Kapnisi, Anastasia Spiridonidou, Despoina Chatzinikolaou, Marianna Goula, Grigoria Pouliou, Ifigeneia Georgantzi, Mikolet Pitsiou, Maria Paterna

Wales: Laura O'Sullivan, Rhiannon Roberts, Rachel Rowe, Gemma Evans, Hayley Ladd; Sophie Ingle (c), Angharad James, Carrie Jones; Natasha Harding, Ceri Holland, Kayleigh Green

Substitutes: Sofia Middleton-Patel, Lily Woodham, Josie Green, Helen Ward, Jessica Fishlock, Elise Hughes, Charlie Estcourt, Georgia Waters, Megan Wynne, Anna Filbey, Ffion Morgan, Olivia Clark

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