Slovak women’s soccer representatives will not play for direct promotion to next year’s European Championships. The Slovaks did not maintain a one-goal lead (2:1) from the opening match in Poprad, and in the rematch of the 1st round of the playoffs, they lost 0:2 after extra time in Cardiff against the favored Wales.
Photo: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans/Shutters / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia
Jess Fishlock scores a goal that was disallowed for offside.
The decisive moment came in the 115th minute, in which Ceri Holland scored a goal advancing to a direct match for participation in the EC against Ireland.
The Welsh women were 22 places higher in the ranking of the International Football Federation (FIFA). Despite this, they lost 1:2 in the opening match in Poprad. The promising result thus gave the Slovaks hope for advancement.
In the first half hour, coach Petr Kopúň’s team tactically handled the duel against the favorites of the double match. At the end of the opening act, however, the Slovaks eased up and in the 39th minute conceded from Jessica Fishlocková’s boot.
The Welsh women got up to speed and dominated the field after the change of sides. They beat goalkeeper Mária Korenčiová twice, but in both cases the joy of the home players was ruined by an offside verdict.
The visiting players led the duel to overtime and the decisive moment came in the 115th minute. After Ceri Holland’s accurate strike, Slovakian hopes revived for a while, when the side referee’s stop shot up, but the VAR system ruled out offside and ended the performance of the Slovenian women in the playoff for the European championship.
rematch of the 1st round of the play-off for promotion to the EC:
Wales – SLOVAKIA 2:0 after extra time (1:0, 1:0)
Goals: 39. Fishlocková, 115. Hollandová. Referees: Augustynová – Bukarowiczová, Ulanovská (all Poland), ŽK: Bartovičová (SR). /1. match 1:2, Wales advanced to the 2nd round/
Wales: Clark – Woodham (91. Green), Ladd, Roberts, Evans – James, Griffiths (106. Cain), Holland – Rowe (84. Barton), Morgan (84. McAteer), Fishlock
SLOVAKIA: Korenčová – Horváthová, Maťavková, Košíková, Bartovičová, Vojteková – Škerdová (65th Retkesová), Šurnovská (77th Panáková), Mikolajová (77th Fischerová), Hmírová (65th Morávková) – Hrúziková (56th Fabová)
As expected, the creation of the game fell to the home players, who were making up for the deficit from the match in Poprad. The Slovaks were able to hold out for the first 20 minutes, during which they did not rely only on a deep defensive block, but tried to make the opponent’s passing in the half of the field uncomfortable with their activity.
At the end of the opening act, however, they lost their concentration and immediately conceded a goal. Jamesová noticed a gap in the visiting team’s defense in the 39th minute and Fishlocková used her millimeter pass.
The same player could have sent Wales into a two-goal lead a few seconds later, but Korenčová did well to reduce the shooting angle and deny the scorer of the opening goal a great opportunity.
A perpendicular pass for the defense was also successful for the Welsh in added time, but Morgan’s shot was blocked by Košíková with an excellent slide.
The home players continued their offensive efforts even after the change of sides and within the first two minutes they immediately got to two goals. First, Morganová stuck Vojteková in the penalty area, but aimed high above Korenčová’s goal.
A few seconds later, the Wales striker had an even bigger opportunity on her boot, when she dragged the ball towards Slovakia’s goal without being covered by anyone, but she again failed to finish.
Shortly after the hour of the game, the Welsh women managed to overcome the Slovakian goalkeeper, but the goal was scored after an offside position. The minimal one-meter position of the game also prevented Fishlocková’s accurate shot in the 69th minute, but the Slovaks kicked defensive mistakes.
The only hint of a chance for them came in the 83rd minute, when the ball bounced off Morávková, but the opponents caught up with her and the substitute player finished from a long distance in an indistinct and inaccurate manner.
In extra time, the home team eased up and the Slovaks got a word in at least hints, but without any effect.
In the end, the Welsh women were more successful when Bartonová hit the post at the end of extra time, but the ball bounced directly in front of the uncovered Holland and the home defender decided on the progress of Wales.
Source: sportweb.pravda.sk
