By Hannah Blackwell
Rhian Wilkinson has admitted Wales have “work to do” if they are to keep alive their dream of making Euro 2025 after a shock 2-1 defeat in Slovakia.
Wales’ hopes of reaching their first women’s major tournament finals are on a knife-edge following a massively disappointing performance in a 2-1 play-off first-leg defeat in Poprad.
Wales were fortunate to come away with just a one-goal deficit to make up at home in Cardiff after being outplayed for most of the match.
Stunning second-half strikes from Martina Surnovska and Maria Mikolajova put Slovakia in command against below-par visitors.
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But Ffion Morgan’s excellent 89th-minute finish gave Wales hope ahead of Tuesday’s semi-final second leg in Cardiff.
“All credit to Slovakia, they played very well,” said Wilkinson.
“They got us on the back foot early on and we weren’t able to control the game on the field.
“We are better than that and we have got to figure that out.
“We got the goal back which puts us in a slightly better position coming home, but we have got work to do. They are definitely a team we have never disrespected and they showed us why they are a good team.
“We come back home, we start on the front foot in front of our fans and hopefully playing our brand of football.”
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Wales will need to turn things around on Tuesday with the winners facing the Republic of Ireland or Georgia for a spot in the finals with Eileen Gleeson’s side all but through following their 6-0 success in Tibilisi.
Wilkinson’s side had talked a good game about history, role-model responsibility and inspiring the next generation in the build-up.
But they froze for over an hour and delivered a low quality display in which they struggled to string two passes together.
Wilkinson added: “We are definitely disappointed. I think frustrated probably sums up the team. They deserved to beat us, absolutely. I think it’s an accurate reflection of the game, 2-1.
“We didn’t play in our style at all in the first half. We talked about pressure and doing something that hasn’t been done before and I think you see that, you see the result.
“The team that ended the game, that’s who we want to be, but we didn’t see enough of that in the 90 minutes.
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Wales started on the front foot with Charlie Estcourt’s volley at the far post blocked by the knees of Slovakia goalkeeper Maria Korenciova and Ceri Holland firing over after a forceful run.
But Slovakia – ranked 51 in the world and 22 places below Wales – took control and Surnovska missed the target from 10 yards before forcing a fine save from Olivia Clark.
The Wales goalkeeper was needed again to stop Mikolajova’s cross from creeping in at the back post.
Slovakia’s superiority was rewarded four minutes into the second period and moments after Josie Green almost headed into her own net.
Wales were slow to close down Surnovska as the ball fell to her from a corner 20 yards out and were duly punished as the ball flashed past Clark.
Mikolajova doubled the lead nine minutes later with a magnificent swerving 25-yard free-kick after Wales’ defence creaked again.
Record caps holder and scorer Jess Fishlock was sent on from the bench after her recent injury problems for the final 25 minutes and Wales improved dramatically upon her arrival.
Wales were running out of time when Fishlock spotted Morgan’s unchecked run, and the Bristol City player took a touch in the box before curling home a superb shot.
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