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Wales advance to final Euro 2025 qualifying round after fighting back to deny Slovakia
Written by Sports Desk. Posted in International Football. | 29 October 2024 | 221 Views
Tags: Football

Wales edged closer to qualifying for their first major tournament, after coming from behind to beat Slovakia after extra time in Cardiff.

Rhian Wilkinson's side trailed 2-1 following the first leg of their first-round tie in the Euro 2025 qualifying play-offs.

However, the Dragons levelled on aggregate in the 38th minute at the Cardiff City Stadium, with Jess Fishlock latching onto Angharad James-Turner's throughball and neatly chipping Slovakia goalkeeper Maria Korenciova.

The offside flag denied Fishlock twice in the second half as the tie went to extra-time.

With eight minutes remaining, substitute Kayleigh Barton raced away and struck the post, but Ceri Holland was there to drill home the rebound, with the goal awarded following a VAR review.

The Republic of Ireland will face Wales in the second round of the play-offs after the Girls in Green wrapped up a 9-0 aggregate victory over Georgia.

Arsenal's Frida Maanum scored four times as Norway's 9-0 victory completed a 14-0 aggregate rout of Albania. The two-time champions set up a tie with Northern Ireland, after Lauren Wade's extra-time winner edged out Croatia.

Sweden – semi-finalists in two of the last three European Championships – were 12-0 aggregate winners over Luxembourg. Next up for them is a clash with Serbia, who beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 6-3.

Scotland are also through to the final qualifying round, with their 4-0 win over Hungary wrapping up an overall 5-0 victory. They will face Finland, who were 6-0 aggregate victors over Montenegro.