The website dedicated to women's football across the country, at ALL levels of the game

@en

Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Back to home page

Wales bring end to winless run

Wales 3 Switzerland 2

Wales secured an impressive 3-2 victory over EURO quarter finalists Switzerland in their final match of 2025 at Estadio

Chapín.

Goals from Sophie Ingle, Hannah Cain and substitute Lily Woodham earned Wales their first win since their memorable play-off triumph over the Republic of Ireland in Dublin last December.

Head coach Rhian Wilkinson made four changes to the side that drew 1–1 with Korea Republic on Friday. Safia Middleton-Patel, Mia Ross, Ceri Holland and Rachel Rowe all came into the starting XI, while Olivia Clark, Rhiannon Roberts, Mared Griffiths and Woodham dropped to the bench. The match also marked milestone occasions for both Holland and Ffion Morgan, who made their 50th senior international appearances.

Wales made a bright start to proceedings and struck first after 16 minutes. Ingle reacted quickest to Holland’s high cross into the box, rising above Elvira Herzog to head home her second goal in as many games for the first time since 2021. Their advantage was short lived, however, as Switzerland equalised just three minutes later. Aurélie Csillag burst through the Wales backline before unleashing a powerful shot beyond the reach of Middleton-Patel.

Despite the leveller, Wales almost restored their lead soon after. A slick passage of play sent Cain free down the right, and her cut back found Rowe, whose driven effort just cleared the crossbar.

Wales did finally reclaim the lead on 34 minutes. A terrific pass from Ingle split the Swiss defence and found Cain’s well timed run in behind. She produced a clever, lofted finish over the advancing Herzog to put her side 2–1 up at the interval.

Wales started the second half just as brightly and made the perfect restart. Substitute Lily Woodham connected sweetly with Cain’s cross from the right, firing a brilliant first time strike into the far corner—her first involvement since entering the match.

Wilkinson used the second half to introduce several substitutes, including a senior debut for Lauren Hughes, who replaced Carrie Jones in the 51st minute. Despite numerous opportunities, it was Switzerland who pulled a goal back on 70 minutes after Wales were caught playing out from the back. Iman Beney applied the punishment, showing excellent footwork to evade defenders before guiding a low strike into the bottom corner beyond Middleton-Patel.

The Swiss came agonisingly close to an equaliser late on. A looping header across goal found Beney, but she couldn’t direct her close range effort on target. At the other end, Wales nearly added a fourth when substitute Griffiths drove forward and curled a strike narrowly over the bar.

In the end, Wales held firm to secure an impressive victory in Spain, an encouraging way to round off the year for Wilkinson’s side.

Wales: Safia Middleton-Patel, Ffion Morgan (sub Lily Woodham 45mins), Gemma Evans, Sophie Ingle (sub Rhiannon Roberts 75mins), Hayley Ladd, Mia Ross, Ceri Holland (sub Esther Morgan 61mins), Angharad James, Carrie Jones (sub Laura Hughes 45mins), Rachel Rowe (sub Mared Griffiths 76mins), Hannah Cain (sub Elise Hughes 61mins). Subs not used: Olivia Clark, Poppy Lyons-Walker, Annie Wilding, Ella Powell, Charlie Estcourt, Mary McAteer, Tianna Teisar.

Switzerland: Elvira Herzog, Nadine Riesen (sub Ana Maria Crnogorcevic 81mins), Noelle Maritz (sub Eseosa Aigbogun 90mins), Noemi Ivelj, Viola Calligaris (sub Laia Balleste 45mins), Geraldine Reuteler, Riola Xhemaili (sub Leila Wandeler 81mins), Lia Walti (sub Alisha Lehmann 66mins), Aurelie Csillag, Sydney Schertenleib, Iman Beney (sub Leela Egli 90mins). Subs not used: Livia Peng, Nadine Bohi, Coumba Sow, Smilia Vallotto, Svenja Folmli, Meriame Terchoun.  

(faw.cymru)