Women's World Cup 2019 qualifier: Kazakhstan 0-1 Wales

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Jess Fishlock WalesImage source, Huw Evans picture agency
Image caption,

Jess Fishlock has won more than 100 caps for Wales

Wales began their qualifying campaign for the 2019 World Cup with a 1-0 victory over Kazakhstan.

Jess Fishlock who won a record 100th cap in April, scored the only goal with a brilliant volley on 53 minutes as she returned to the side from injury.

Fishlock struck with a right-footed effort after the hosts failed to clear from a corner, reward for a fine individual display.

The Seattle Reign midfielder twice went close in the first half.

Wales beat the Kazakhs 4-0 in their last European qualifying group home and away, with striker Helen Ward scoring five goals.

However, Jayne Ludlow's side made the 7000 mile round trip without record scorer Ward, who missed the game on maternity leave after giving birth this month.

Wales also face Bosnia-Herzegovina, England and Russia in Group One.

Wales Women coach Jayne Ludlow:

"We came here for three points and thankfully we are going home with them.

"It was a slightly different challenge to what we were expecting, because Kazakhstan were structurally very different to how they have played previously.

"They had a lot of bodies in front of goal which made it hard for us to break them down, but that's something for us to learn from and work on as we look towards the game against Russia.

"Their goalkeeper had a good game but thankfully Jess made the most of an opportunity and got the win for us because it wasn't a game full of goal-scoring opportunities."

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