By Callum Ellis
Jayne Ludlow praised the staying power of her Wales team as Kayleigh Green’s late header ended their long goal drought and delivered victory over New Zealand.
Wales manager Ludlow saw her side win 1-0 in Cardiff against the World Cup-bound Ferns, who had a penalty saved by goalkeeper Laura O’Sullivan.
Green nodded home in stoppage time at Leckwith Stadium, bringing an end to Wales’ unwanted run of seven games without a goal.
For Wales – who are missing out on the World Cup party in France after coming agonisingly close to qualification – it was satisfying warm-up for their Euro campaign and Ludlow said: “The intensity we still had in the last 10 minutes of the game is probably the most pleasing thing right now.
“We know we can change gear and if we are still in a game, we can go and hopefully get three points at the end of it.
“For us, it’s about winning as many games as we possibly can and to do that, you have to be hard to beat. Clean sheets are a priority for us and thankfully we’ve had that again today.
“There were some moments when I thought that might not actually happen, but to score at the other end is a bonus.”
New Zealand striker Sarah Gregorius, fresh from scoring the winner against England three days earlier, saw her first-half spot kick saved by O’Sullivan on a frustrating evening for the Kiwis.
Despite being without the midfield duo of Angharad James and Jess Fishlock, Wales held their own and heaped pressure on the visitors’ goal throughout the evening.
Another notable bonus for Ludlow and her players was the fact that more than 2,000 supporters turned out for the second consecutive friendly on home soil.
The result puts the hosts in good heart ahead of their upcoming Euro 2021 qualifying campaign, which gets underway against the Faroe Islands in August.
It was former Liverpool striker Gregorius who looked to pave open the first chance of the evening when she advanced into the penalty area, before Hayley Ladd came to Wales’ rescue in the opening stages.
Olivia Chance also looked to test O’Sullivan with an effort from long range.
The first real chance of the first half fell in favour of Hannah Wilkinson, who forced O’Sullivan into making an instinctive, fingertip save.
The visitors were then presented with a glorious chance to take the lead 10 minutes before the interval when Natasha Harding brought down Gregorius in the penalty area.
Gregorius stepped up to take the resulting spot-kick but saw her effort kept out by an outstretched O’Sullivan.
After combining with Green, Wales captain Sophie Ingle also went close to breaking the deadlock when she tested Eric Nayler from range in the final stages of the first half.
Wales continued to press for the opener after the restart as substitute Emma Jones stung the palms of Nayler.
And the breakthrough that Wales’ performance merited finally came in stoppage time.
Green diverted Ingle’s flick-on past goalkeeper Nayler to seal the hosts’ first victory since the 3-0 win over Russia in the World Cup qualifying campaign.
Wales: O’Sullivan, Dykes, Evans, Ingle (C), Roberts, Hughes (Nolan 62’), Ward (Jones 62’), Estcourt (Wynne 84’), Green, Harding, Ladd.
Subs not used: Clark, Filbey, Lloyd, Woodham, Powell, Evans.
New Zealand: Nayler, Percival (Moore 61’), Green, Stott, Riley (C) (Hassett 62’), Erceg, Longo (Satchell 84’), Gregorius (Kete 74’), Bowen, Wilkinson (White 45’), Chance.
Subs not used: Bott, Kete, Morton, Duncan, Skilton, Cleverly, Esson, Olla.
