Euro 2025 qualifying: Kosovo 0-6 Wales - Rhian Wilkinson's side continue winning start

Women's Euros 2025 qualifying: Kosovo 0-6 Wales - highlights

By Michael Pearlman
BBC Sport Wales

Wales secured a resounding 6-0 victory in Kosovo to continue their winning start to Euro 2025 qualifying.

Jess Fishlock, winning her 150th international cap, helped put Wales in control with two first-half assists.

Fishlock's superb touch allowed Rachel Rowe to fire Wales ahead before her pass teed up Kayleigh Barton to score.

Rowe added a second after the break and substitutes Ffion Morgan and Elise Hughes completed the rout, with Hughes scoring twice from close range.

Perfect start to Euro 2025 qualifying

Wales women are chasing a first major tournament appearance and have made an excellent start to life under new head coach Rhian Wilkinson.

Wilkinson had only a matter of days to work with her squad, having taken charge last month following Gemma Grainger's surprise departure to Norway.

However, the former Canada international has enjoyed a flying start to life as Wales boss, with a maximum points return from her first two qualification games.

The style and attacking intent Wales have shown across the two qualifiers - following Friday's 4-0 win over Croatia in Wrexham - has caught the eye and Wilkinson has also underlined some ways that her approach is different to that of her predecessor.

Wilkinson made four changes to the side that won against Croatia, with established players Rhiannon Roberts and Angharad James left on the bench in a move in stark contrast to Grainger's management, where an unchanged line-up was so often to be expected.

Wales had taken control of the contest by half-time thanks to some composed finishing and they pressed with real intent in attacking positions, making life as uncomfortable as possible for their hosts.

Wales had a strong grip on the contest with a 2-0 advantage at half-time but, as against Croatia, they kept pushing after the interval.

Rowe added her second goal after exchanging passes with substitute James and firing into the roof of the net and, within two minutes, the Rangers midfielder turned provider as her cross was finished at the back post by Morgan for her first international goal.

FAW

Rachel Rowe has now scored eight goals for Wales

Despite a playing surface that was so hard the referee wore trainers rather than boots, Wales maintained control throughout and restricted the home side, who did not muster a shot on target.

Wales might have stretched their lead, but Sophie Ingle volleyed over from close range and Hughes headed over with a sharp chance that came at her quickly.

Hughes eventually got on the scoresheet on 86 minutes as she fired into an empty net after goalkeeper Alma Demiri spilled Ceri Holland's cross.

Hughes, the top scorer in the England's Women's Championship, had time to double her tally as she fired home emphatically from Holland's cushioned header.

'She's the best player in the world' - family pay tribute to Fishlock

Focus on the 150-cap history maker

The focus was always likely to be on Fishlock for what was a landmark appearance in the history of Welsh football.

She is the first Wales player to reach the 150-cap mark, having made her debut in 2006.

The 37-year old has started in 148 of her 150 Wales appearances and incredibly has featured in 66% of Wales' international matches under Football Association of Wales affiliation.

Fishlock marked this appearance by captaining Wales, with the Seattle Reign midfielder also chasing Helen Ward's record as Wales' all-time top goalscorer, having moved within two goals of her record of 44.

Unsurprisingly, she marked the occasion with a fine display that saw her create Wales' first two goals.

After an extremely cagey opening 30 minutes, it was a moment of quality from Fishlock that led to Wales opening the scoring as she controlled adroitly, showing composure and quality to lay the ball into the path of Rowe, who smashed home her seventh Wales goal from just outside the penalty area.

Fishlock fired wide on 39 minutes, but played a pivotal role in putting Wales in control by the interval as she again turned creator just before half-time with a pass that split the home defence and allowed Barton to fire home from close range.

She has said this will be her last international campaign, but underlined why she remains as pivotal as ever to her country in an international break where she helped Wales to back-to-back wins, scoring twice and getting two assists among Wales' 10 unanswered goals.

Wales head coach Rhian Wilkinson told BBC Sport Wales:

"I'm really proud of the team and we had multiple different goal scorers, I'm very proud of that.

"Today wasn't easy we had to fight for that win, Kosovo came out and gave us a great game. It was hot and the players found a way to win, I'm very proud.

"It's a privilege to work in this game and to work for Wales. To stand on the touchline and watch the girls give everything for their country, it's the dream job.

"Qualifying goes very quickly, it's always about the next game.

"We've had two good performances and we will now talk about consistency. How we keep building on these performances and keeping these standards is what we'll look for going forward."

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