Wales 5-0 Greece: Thumping win for Gemma Grainger's side in Llanelli

Wales cruised to a 5-0 win over Greece to maintain the positive start to their 2023 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Midfielder Ceri Holland scored twice, either side of the break, on an evening where Wales dominated throughout.

Captain Sophie Ingle gave Wales the lead after seven minutes in Llanelli as she fired home after a fine team move.

Kayleigh Green added a second as she took advantage of a defensive mix-up, while Natasha Harding headed home a fifth goal from close range.

Wales' dominant display keeps them in second position in World Cup qualifying Group I, two points behind leaders and favourites France, who Wales visit on Tuesday, 30 November in their next qualifier.

This was a night where only a win would do for Wales and they never looked like slipping up against a Greece side who rarely managed to test goalkeeper Laura O'Sullivan.

Wales were without Reading midfielder Rachel Rowe, who was ruled out by the hamstring injury suffered before October's international break, so Tottenham defender Esther Morgan started at left-back.

Brighton striker Green returned from suspension and she was a focal point for Wales from the get-go with the conditions at Parc y Scarlets extremely difficult as both rain and snow lashed down, with the Greek players visibly shivering during the national anthems.

Wales' early pressure led to a breakthrough after seven minutes when Ingle finished a fine move that saw Jess Fishlock find her late run after Natasha Harding's cross from the right.

Ingle showed fantastic composure to fire home just her fourth international goal as she scored in back-to-back games for the first time for her country, curling the ball home from the edge of the penalty area.

The goal allowed Wales to continue to play aggressively and look to win possession in advanced areas and they added a second goal thanks to Green's tenacity.

• As it happened & reaction: Wales 5-0 Greece

There appeared little danger as Maria Palama passed back to goalkeeper Anthi Papakonstantinou, but the ball held up on the wet pitch and Green exploited the situation, dispossessing Papakonstantinou and tapping into an empty net.

Wales had their victory essentially secured after 25 minutes when Ceri Holland's shot proved too powerful for Papakonstantinou to handle as the ball squirmed into the net.

There was no let-up to the poor weather with the rain and sleet making conditions extremely difficult as Wales attempted to bolster their goal difference.

Wales' most-capped player Jess Fishlock missed a golden chance to add a fourth before Holland doubled her tally for the evening with a fine finish as she cut inside and curled the ball around Papakonstantinou.

The Greek goalkeeper could also do nothing to prevent Wales' fifth goal as Harding headed home from close range after Rhiannon Roberts' pinpoint cross.

Substitute Carrie Jones almost added a sixth after replacing Holland while Wales' record scorer Helen Ward edged closer to the 100-cap club after being introduced for her 97th Wales appearance.

Fishlock was also denied by Papakonstantinou after a fine run and Roberts saw a header saved as the hosts looked for further goals, but boss Gemma Grainger was also able to bring off her key attacking players as she looks ahead to Wales' daunting visit to face group leaders France in Guingamp.

Wales manager Gemma Grainger told BBC Sport Wales:

"It was a really good performance, three points that we wanted and we also wanted to build on our performances and I felt we did that.

"Apart from the weather it was a perfect evening for us. The weather could have thrown a spanner in the works, but the team coped really well with it.

"We will enjoy this evening and then first thing tomorrow all attention turns to the France game.

"I think dominant is a great word for our performance. Greece have some strengths, but we stopped them and we are so happy to have kept a clean sheet, that's important to us.... we are really pleased."