Euro 2025 qualifying highlights: Wales 1-1 Ukraine

Michael Pearlman
BBC Sport Wales
At
Parc y Scarlets

Wales were held at home by Ukraine in Euro 2025 qualifying as a calamitous start cost the hosts two points in a 1-1 draw.

Ukraine took the lead from a Wales mix-up in the third minute as Rhiannon Roberts’ wayward pass was intercepted by Veronika Andrukhiv, who could not miss with goalkeeper Olivia Clark out of position.

Wales levelled on 64 minutes when substitute Kayleigh Barton scored from the penalty spot after Ceri Holland’s shot had been blocked by Olha Basanska's arm.

Wales remain top of Group B4 with seven points from three games ahead of the reverse fixture against Ukraine in Poland on Tuesday, 4 June.

After a fine start to life as Wales manager, this represented the first testing evening for boss Rhian Wilkinson.

Wilkinson made four changes to the side who won 6-0 in Kosovo with Angharad James recalled to captain the side and Mary McAteer awarded a first international start in a side that also welcomed back Roberts and Ffion Morgan in a revamped defence.

The former Canadian defender had warned her side needed to improve defensively despite keeping clean sheets in their comprehensive wins over Croatia and Kosovo and Ukraine’s shock early goal underlined her point in a severe manner.

The visitors went in front after only three minutes as Wales gifted Ukraine the lead with Roberts’ errant pass intercepted by Andrukhiv after she had received the ball from Olivia Clark who was out of her goal and stranded as Andrukhiv passed into the empty net.

Huw Evans Picture Agency

Kayleigh Barton's goal was her 19th for Wales

The goal was a jolt to Wales who would have expected to pick up from where they left off in their opening qualifiers, but they did produce several good chances to equalise in an engaging first period.

Twice Wales managed to find a pass that bisected the Ukrainian defence, but Jess Fishlock saw her shot blocked and Ceri Holland’s cross flashed across goal without a decisive touch.

Fishlock also saw a firmly struck left-footed effort tipped over the crossbar by Daria Keliushyk as the home side enjoyed over 75% possession before the interval.

Fishlock, who was awarded a special cap pre-match to commemorate her 150th appearance, might have levelled on 41 minutes but saw her volley – which she had to snatch at in a crowded penalty area - drift over the crossbar.

Wilkinson acted decisively at half-time as McAteer and Morgan were replaced by Rachel Rowe and Kayleigh Barton, but Wales lacked the fluidity they showed in their opening two Euro qualifiers.

Most of Wales’ players are now in their off-season but despite lacking rhythm Wales did not lack endeavour and their efforts were rewarded on 64 minutes when they equalised from the penalty spot.

Rowe’s decisive run caused panic in the Ukraine defence and after Keliushyk saved James’ effort, Ceri Holland’s firmly struck drive was handled by Olha Basanska, with Barton firing home the penalty.

Barton glanced a header just wide as Wales pushed for a winning goal, but there was a lack of composure about the hosts, every pass was hurried and despite masses of pressure, a winning goal proved elusive.

Fishlock’s trickery saw her slalom into the penalty area on 88 minutes, but Keliushyk saved her effort at the near post.

Rowe also came close in stoppage time as she flashed a shot across goal from long-range, while Holland also fired wide as Ukraine held on.

Wales boss Rhian Wilkinson told BBC Sport Wales:

"I think I would be lying if I said it wasn't a frustrating match, we are better than letting one mistake cost us two points.

"I thought we lost our way in the first 45 minutes but I was proud with the way the team responded.

"We stuck with the process and the things we are trying to implement.

"Ukraine is a country who have been through it all. We were always going to have to earn everything we got and while we didn't do that in the first-half, we did in the second."

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