2019 Women's World Cup qualifiers: Wales 1-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina

Wales' Jess Fishlock is considering retiring from international football after this current World Cup campaign

Wales kept their World Cup qualifying fate in their own hands as Kayleigh Green's second-half goal broke Bosnia-Herzegovina's resistance in Swansea.

Jayne Ludlow's side leapfrogged England to top Group A after Green's 61st-minute volley ensured it was not a tale of missed opportunities.

Phil Neville's England trail Wales by a point, but with Friday's game against Russia in Moscow in hand.

Russia then travel to face Wales in Newport on Tuesday.

Wales' frustrations against Bosnia-Herzegovina included record scorer Helen Ward missing a penalty.

Can Wales maintain momentum?

Green's goal means they need two wins from their final two fixtures, including at home to England in August, to earn a place in France next summer.

And Ludlow will hope her side can maintain the momentum they have gathered in this unbeaten run through the campaign.

They needed to bide their time to build on the foundation set in earlier results, struggling to find a breakthrough despite dominating.

Predictably, Seattle Reign star Jess Fishlock gave Wales a creative edge, but the hosts could not make more of the openings, with Yeovil striker Green spurning two chances.

Birmingham's Hayley Ladd and Liverpool defender Sophie Ingle helped stop a physical Bosnia-Herzegovina overly threatening on the counter as a well-drilled Wales kept pushing.

It looked as though they had their rewards when 42-goal forward Ward drew a 54th-minute foul from Melisa Hasanbegovic.

But the defender's namesake, goalkeeper Envera, denied Ward from the spot as she opted to go for power down the centre.

It suggested a disappointing night for Wales, only for the tireless Green to pounce on sloppy defending with a smart finish from inside the box.

Fishlock inspiration

The goal prompted huge celebrations from Ludlow, as it did from Fishlock who turned to the 2,645 crowd to roar out her joy.

The talismanic midfielder, who extended her record as Wales' most capped international with her 110th appearance for her country, has been such a huge factor in the surge of form and belief of Ludlow's team.

She was a class above everyone else on the pitch and gave the crowd flashes of real inspiration and skill, none more so than a weaving run in first-half injury time that deserved a goal, but which was denied by Hasanbegovic's smart save.

And though she was on the end of some robust Bosnian challenges, Fishlock continued to drive her side forward, helping them gain their just rewards.

The 31-year-old has admitted she may call time on her Wales career at the end of the campaign because of the impact on travelling from club duty in America and Australia.

Given her influence on and off the pitch, both the side and Welsh football as a whole should make the most of her while they can.

What's next

Second-place England play their game in hand against Russia in Moscow on Friday.

Russia then travel to Newport Stadium to face Ludlow's side on Tuesday in Wales' penultimate match.

Wales host England on 31 August with England finishing the group away to Kazakhstan four days later.

Only the seven group winners are guaranteed a place at the World Cup finals, with the four best runners-up teams competing for the one remaining spot from European qualifying.