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Wales cruised to a 5-0 win over Greece as they maintained their positive start to their World Cup qualifying campaign.

Midfielder Ceri Holland scored twice, either side of the break, on an evening where Wales dominated throughout.
Captain Sophie Ingle gave Wales the lead after seven minutes in Llanelli as she fired home after a fine team move.

Kayleigh Green added a second as she took advantage of a defensive mix-up, while Natasha Harding headed home a fifth goal from close range.

Sophie Ingle goal


Wales' dominant display keeps them in second position in World Cup qualifying Group I, two points behind leaders and favourites France, who Wales visit on Tuesday, 30 November in their next qualifier.

This was a night where only a win would do for Wales and they never looked like slipping up against a Greece side who rarely managed to test goalkeeper Laura O'Sullivan.

Wales were without a key player as Reading midfielder Rachel Rowe is still ruled out by the hamstring injury suffered in training on international duty last month, with Tottenham defender Esther Morgan deputising for her at left-back.

Brighton striker Green returned from suspension and she was a focal point for Wales from the get-go with the conditions at Parc y Scarlets extremely difficult as both rain and snow lashed down, with the Greek players visibly shivering during the national anthems.

Wales' early pressure led to a breakthrough after seven minutes when Ingle finished a fine move that saw Jess Fishlock find her late run after Natasha Harding's cross from the right.

Ingle showed fantastic composure to fire home just her fourth international goal as she scored in back-to-back games for the first time for her country, curling the ball home from the edge of the penalty area.

The goal allowed Wales to continue to play aggressively and look to win possession in advanced areas and they added a second goal thanks to Green's tenacity.

There appeared little danger as Maria Palama passed back to goalkeeper Anthi Papakonstantinou, but the ball held up on the wet pitch and Green exploited the situation, dispossessing Papakonstantinou and tapping into an empty net.

Wales had their victory essentially secured after 25 minutes when Ceri Holland's shot proved too powerful for Papakonstantinou to handle as the ball squirmed into the net.

There was no let-up to the poor weather with the rain and sleet making conditions extremely difficult as Wales attempted to bolster their goal difference.

Wales' most-capped player Jess Fishlock missed a golden chance to add a fourth before Holland doubled her tally for the evening with a fine finish as she cut inside and curled the ball around Papakonstantinou.

The Greek goalkeeper could also do nothing to prevent Wales' fifth goal as Harding headed home from close range after Rhiannon Roberts' pinpoint cross.

Substitute Carrie Jones almost added a sixth after replacing Holland while Wales' record scorer Helen Ward edged closer to the 100-cap club after being introduced for her 97th Wales appearance.

Fishlock was also denied by Papakonstantinou after a fine run and Roberts saw a header saved as the hosts looked for further goals, but boss Gemma Grainger was also able to bring off her key attacking players as she looks ahead to Wales' daunting visit to face group leaders France in Guingamp.
 
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Wales goal celebration v Greece


Wales captain Sophie Ingle says her side are determined to prove they can compete against the world's top sides ahead of their visit to France.

Wales' next two World Cup qualifiers are against the Group I favourites, but Ingle says the squad believe they can go and compete against a team ranked fifth in the world by Fifa.

"We want to build on the games we have played against top opposition," Ingle told BBC Sport Wales.

"We want to show who Wales are."
Ingle says Wales can head into Tuesday's fixture feeling like the pressure is off with expectations low.

"They will have a big crowd, we know they are a team with a lot of strengths but we have to try and go at their weaknesses," she said.

"We want to play with a bit of freedom, we have nothing to lose really, we are unbeaten at this stage and happy where we are.

"France are relentless and scoring goals for fun, but we have to focus on ourselves. We need to be solid and to try and prevent them from scoring."

Wales' 5-0 win over Greece in Llanelli on Fridaymaintained their position of second in World Cup qualifying Group I, with Wales two points behind leaders France.

The group is now at the halfway stage with Wales' trip to France their last qualifier of 2021, with their campaign resuming with the reverse fixture on Friday, 8 April, 2022.

The visit to face Corinne Diacre's side is a daunting one for Wales with France scoring 35 goals in their opening five qualification games, averaging seven goals-per-match.

"We would like to bring that average down, that would be our first goal," Wales boss Gemma Grainger said.

"When we came into this job we knew the foundation of this team has been how defensively sound they have been in previous campaigns.

"We have to work exceptionally hard and we have to defend well in all areas. We will have a game plan for when we are out of possession.

"France are a brilliant team. But we will be the highest ranked team they have faced and we will be viewing it as a good challenge."

Wales will be without influential defender Rachel Rowe as she continues to recover from the injury she sustained on Wales' last international camp, but Grainger has no fresh injury or suspension issues.

Manchester United's Hayley Ladd came into the camp having been ill and she was taken off at half time of Wales' win over Greece.

However, Grainger says that was a predetermined move designed to keep Ladd fresh for the visit to France and confirmed a fully-fit squad.

"Everyone is available, we are the underdogs for this game, we know the expectation outside the camp will be low, but our expectations are high," she added.

"At the end of this game we will learn a lot about where we are."
 

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