Wales forward Jess Fishlock celebrates with Rhiannon Roberts, Sophie Ingle and Rachel RoweFAW

Jess Fishlock scored her fourth goal of 2025 European Championship qualifying against Croatia

Michael Pearlman
BBC Sport Wales
At
Karlovac, Croatia

Wales put their European Championship qualification hopes back in their own hands with a 3-0 win over Croatia on a night where Jess Fishlock equalled Helen Ward’s goalscoring record.

Fishlock’s emphatic finish – in off the underside of the crossbar – on 14 minutes saw her score her 44th Wales goal, with the opportunity to move ahead of Ward on Tuesday when Kosovo visit Parc y Scarlets.

Barring an upset of epic proportions, Wales should now complete the task of topping group B4 and earning the status of being a seeded side in the play-offs for a Euro 2025 berth, needing just a point from their final group game.

Wales made the result safe in the second half as Sophie Ingle fired home from close-range with an effort that went in off the post before Kayleigh Barton’s late penalty sealed the points and ensured Wales’ dream of reaching a first major tournament remains on track.

Fishlock makes more history

This was a night where Wales needed a result above all else and as has so often been the case, it was their record appearance-maker, Fishlock, who provided the all-important moment.

As the blistering heat subsided as the sun set, it was Wales’ biggest star who once again, as she has done so often, shone brightest.

Wales had barely threatened when with their first incisive attack, Fishlock struck home with aplomb after Ingle’s clever dummy allowed her a sight of goal from inside the penalty area, with her right-footed effort crashing in off the crossbar.

Arguably one of the greatest players to have never played at a major international tournament, Fishlock’s influence for her country has been every bit as great as Gareth Bale’s and she now has another record to prove it.

Fishlock’s 44th international goal is all the more remarkable considering the vast majority of her matches have seen her deployed as a central midfielder.

Winning her 153rd cap, Fishlock once again proved the catalyst for Wales despite travelling directly from the United States having played for club side Seattle Reign on Sunday.

She might have even broken the record, but Fishlock’s 54th minute volley flashed across the face of goal.

However, with her wife and teammate Tziarra King in attendance along with the small pocket of Wales supporters who made the trip to Karlovac, Fishlock again showed why she is one of Wales’ all-time great sporting stars.

FAW

Wales remain unbeaten in their Euro 2025 qualifying campaign

Wales move back into pole position

Wales boss Rhian Wilkinson had warned before the match that there could be “no excuses,” after back-to-back draws with Ukraine meant Croatia came into this contest with an advantage over Wales and a chance to win the group with a victory.

The hosts had not conceded a goal since their opening 4-0 defeat against Wales in Wrexham, but Wales always seemed too strong for a side still relying on amateur players and who seemed to have little ambition to do more than simply stifle the visitors in the sweltering heat.

Wilkinson’s side took control after Fishlock’s opener and might have been further ahead at half-time. However, Doris Bacic saved well to deny Kayleigh Barton’s snapshot and Ceri Holland’s freekick, while Barton also saw an effort ruled out for offside.

Wales had ceded advantage to Croatia after two draws last month against Ukraine and had no margin for error as they chased top spot in group B4 and a return to Nations League A, but they did not sit back after the interval and pushed for a second with Gemma Evans’ reactive effort striking the post after the ball fell to her from Holland’s freekick.

The goal to give Wales a cushion finally arrived on 66 minutes when Ingle was the quickest to react after the ball ricocheted off Kristina Nevrkla from Rachel Rowe’s freekick and gave the Chelsea midfielder the simplest of tasks to poke home from close-range.

The goal gave Wilkinson the luxury of giving the likes of Rowe and Fishlock a rest in the latter stages, with Wales’ aim of topping group B4 all but secured, but there was still time for a late third as Kayleigh Barton smashed home a penalty after a handball, her third successful spot-kick in the past three Wales matches.

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