Denmark 1-0 Wales: Wales relegated from League A of Nations League | OneFootball

Wales’ relegation from League A of the UEFA Women’s Nations League was confirmed on Friday, as Rhian Wilkinson’s side were defeated by Denmark in Odense.

Pernille Harder’s goal just after half-time condemned the visitors to another defeat, less than five weeks out from Wales’ maiden appearance at a major tournament.

As it happened

With just over a month to go until their historic first-ever participation at the European Championships, Wales came into this critical UEFA Women’s Nations League game in the awareness that they needed at least a draw to stand a chance of maintaining their League A status. Having started the campaign with back-to-back draws against Sweden and a 2-1 home defeat to Denmark, this final group fixture was high-pressure for Rhian Wilkinson’s side.

But their efforts were made more difficult just four minutes into the game when Mayzee Davies was forced off with a non-contact knee injury. The midfielder was helped off the field, replaced by Alice Griffiths. The substitution early on seemed to unsettle the Welsh side, who were immediately put under relentless pressure from a confident Denmark side.

Pernille Harder was the focal point of Denmark’s supremacy, testing the Welsh defence to the limit. She came agonisingly near to scoring in the first few minutes with a rasping strike that clashed against the crossbar and left goalkeeper Olivia Clark standing.

In trying to withstand the pressure, Wales rearranged their shape, Hayley Ladd coming into a back five. However, Denmark continued to control the ball and create chances.

Controversy had come in the 21st minute when a welt in the Welsh box had seen a goal-line clearance from Stine Ballisager. Replays suggested the ball could possibly have crossed the line, but as no goal-line technology is in play, play was continued. The incident will further fuel increasingly vociferous demands for such technology to be brought into the women’s game.

Despite Wales being on the back foot for large parts of the half, they were able to get some attacking rhythm going through Ceri Holland. Her pace and push down the flank gave the Welsh a handy outlet, and she created some good opportunities that nearly led to a breakthrough.

The breakthrough only came to Denmark three minutes into the second half. Harder, who had been a constant thorn in the side, was at last rewarded, curling in a low shot from the bottom corner having made space on the fringe of the area. The goal was no more than Denmark deserved, but it was a blow to Wales’ League A survival hopes.

As the second half wore on, Denmark more and more appeared to be doubling their lead. The Welsh defence began to get edgy under continued pressure, but they were thankful not to have conceded a second in the 71st minute when Hayley Ladd, returned to the back line, made a stunning goal-line clearance to deny what looked a certain Denmark goal.

Wales had flashes of hope on the attack, but too often the finish was lacking. Some decent chances amounted to nothing, with the Danish defence keen to snuff out threat.

In the end, Denmark’s early dominance and Harder’s precision finisher won the game for Denmark 1-0. The victory has Wales confirmed of their relegation from League A and desperately searching for solutions prior to their major tournament appearance this summer. There were flickers of promise most notably from Holland but Wilkinson’s side know that they have work to do.

The lineups

DEN: Østergaard; Obaze. Pedersen, Veje; Thomsen, Snerle, Kühl, Holmgaard; Kramer, Vangsgaard, Harder

WAL: Clark; Green, Davies, Evans; Powell, James, Ladd, Woodham; Holland, Fishlock; Hughes