Wales suffered a 2-1 defeat within the Girls’s World Cup qualifier as France maintained their 100 per cent file, whereas Northern Eire’s hopes had been additionally dealt a blow towards Austria.
Wendy Renard and Marie Antoinette Catuto scored the targets for France, which ranked third on the earth – 28 locations above Wales – with seven wins from the identical variety of matches.
Sophie Engel reduce the distinction in half with a trick shot 19 minutes from the top, and Wales was denied a draw when Gemma Evans’ header was canceled for offside.
Helen Ward was despatched into harm time to win her one hundredth hat and grow to be the fourth Welsh girl to succeed in the milestone after Engel, Jess Fishlock and Lauren Dykes.
Slovenia’s 2-0 win in Kazakhstan put them one level forward of Wales within the race for second and second place.
However Slovenia has performed one sport greater than Gemma Grainger and is visiting France on Tuesday.
Wales performs away to Kazakhstan, who’ve but to get a degree from six matches, on the identical evening.
France had gained 2-0 when the 2 groups met in Brittany in November and dominated the early levels at Parc des Scarlets, the place Paris Saint-Germain winger Kadidiato Diani was a relentless risk.
Diane had two opening possibilities inside seconds after 16 minutes. Laura O’Sullivan denied her first try on the close to publish earlier than France recycled possession and opened extensive.
Wales had some brilliant moments within the aggressive first half regardless of being closely influenced by elegant French one-touch soccer.
Engel noticed an try blocked after a stampede within the penalty space and Fishlock didn’t benefit from Pauline Perrod Magnin’s weak punch towards France.
Manchester United’s Carrie Jones, who’s appearing on behalf of suspended Kylie Inexperienced, additionally needed to save a close-knit sort out from Perrod Magnin.
France broke the impasse after simply 31 seconds after O’Sullivan beautifully pushed again Renard’s effort.
Sandy Toletti swung over one other nook and Renard climbed up once more to attain with a carbon copy header.
Lyon central defender Wendy Renard scored France’s first aim of their 2-1 win
France doubled their lead within the 57th minute when Catuto parried an try by O’Sullivan, who was left with the easy job of rolling the ball into the empty web.
Engel arrange a runway feat by scoring her fifth aim in Wales when she fired by a crowd of French defenders.
Diani had a late effort off the road and France now wanted one other win to safe qualification for subsequent yr’s finals in Australia and New Zealand.
Northern Eire ladies They suffered an enormous blow to their World Cup qualifying hopes as they misplaced 3-1 to them Austria In Wiener Neustadt.
Three targets early within the second half left the guests, who now face the dreadful prospect of assembly Group D leaders England at Windsor Park subsequent week.
Rachel Furness nearly profited from an early error by Austrian goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger however the hosts quickly started to claim management.
Karina Weininger opened the scoring when she put in a nook kick from Barbara Dunst three minutes into the second half, earlier than Marisa Callahan got here near equalizing after one other Zinsberger foul.
Two targets in just some minutes successfully ended Northern Eire’s possibilities as Nicole Bella netted within the fifty fifth minute and Dunst adopted from shut vary shortly thereafter.
Joelly Andrew scored 5 minutes from time however the defeat left Northern Eire three factors behind the second-placed Austrian within the play-off.
Grainger: We have proven our resilience
Wales supervisor Gemma Grainger felt her crew’s defeat was bittersweet after dropping narrowly to one of many top-ranked groups in FIFA, who has gained each subsequent of their sport.
She mentioned, “Perhaps we really feel the identical means we did within the first sport, however it’s really somewhat worse. Dropping 2-0 towards the third greatest crew on the earth and pushing them to the top reveals how extremely resilient this group is.”
“We competed towards among the best groups on the earth. I’m dissatisfied, however I’m proud and that’s the feeling.
“I can lastly see them making substitutions and losing time. I am taking a look at them and I believe that is an actual signal of the crew we’re.
“We need to play with these groups in tournaments and I really feel prefer it was a championship match.”
