Match Report - Wales 0 - 1 Belgium
17 Feb 2008
Players
| Wales | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Nicola Davies |
| 2 | Kathryn Morgan |
| 3 | Natalie Holt |
| 4 | Nicola Cousins |
| 5 | Emma Jones |
| 6 | Michelle Green |
| 7 | Loren Dykes |
| 8 | Jayne Ludlow (c) |
| 9 | Cheryl Foster |
| 10 | Jessica Fishlock |
| 11 | Gwennan Harries |
| 12 | Joanne Edwards |
| 14 | Kerrie Manley |
| 15 | Charlotte Miller |
| 16 | Sally Wade |
| 17 | Eleri Earnshaw |
| 18 | Carla Parfitt |
| 21 | Rhian Nokes (GK) |
| Belgium | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Gave Van Poucke |
| 2 | Maude Coutereels |
| 3 | Annelies Timmermans |
| 4 | Heleen Jacques |
| 5 | Hanne Vandegoor |
| 6 | Aline Zeler |
| 7 | Audrey Demoustier |
| 8 | Femke Maes (c) |
| 9 | Kristel Verelst |
| 10 | Niki De Cock |
| 11 | Janice Cayman |
| 12 | Tania Vanderhouwe (GK) |
| 13 | Marjorie De Rammelaere |
| 14 | Julie Gregoire |
| 15 | Lenie Onzia |
| 16 | Davina Philtjens |
| 17 | Berit Stevens |
| 18 | Marlis Verbruggen |
Substitutions
| On | Off | Minute |
|---|---|---|
| Eleri Earnshaw | Gwennan Harries | 78 |
| Carla Parfitt | Kathryn Morgan | 88 |
| On | Off | Minute |
|---|---|---|
| Davina Philtjens | Audrey Demoustier | 45 |
| Marlis Verbruggen | Niki De Cock | 90 |
Goals
| Wales | Minute |
|---|
| Belgium | Minute |
|---|---|
| Kristel Verelst | 72 |
Cards
No cards received
Officials
Referee: Sabine Bonnin (France)
Assistant referee 1: Karine Vives Solana (France)
Assistant referee 2: Audrey Guerlin (France)
4th official: Kim Fisher (Wales)
Other information
Attendance: 275
Report: On a crisp day at Jenner Park both teams opened the game brightly but the deadlock was broken in the 72min when Aline Zeler picked the ball up in mid-field and drove the ball low into the Welsh goal area to the feet of Kristel Maes who first touch out foxed the Welsh defence allowing her space to lift the ball over a sprawling Nicola Davies in the Welsh goal.
Chances in the first half were few for both teams Wales’s came close in the 30 min from a Jessica Fishlock free kick she lifted the ball into the Belgium goal area only to find a White jersey to pump the ball back up field to catch Wales on the counter attack. That was the story or the day for Wales the final ball into the Belgium goal area not falling to the feet of a welsh player.
Belgium should have gone one up in the 44 min Janice Cayman dinked her way past the Welsh defence into the Welsh goal area, Davies in the Welsh goal was quick to react and close her down and smothering her shoot, a fine save to keep Wales in the game going into the break.
Wales came out for the 2nd half with the bit between there teeth and put the pressure on Belgium and in the 64 min should have pulled level, Cheryl Foster picked ball up wide attacking the goal struck the ball goal bound hitting a Belgium player on the hand, referee waved play on the ball bounces back to her feet she lifts the ball back into the path of Jayne Ludlow who chips the ball over Gave Van Poucke who was coming out to close her down and the ball goes inches wide of the post a miss which was to prove Wales down fall.
The deadlock was broken in the 72nd min with Wales not closing in mid field this allowed Aline Zeler space laying the ball into the path of Kristel Maes who had time and space to turn and lift the ball over Davies and into the back of the net, a cruel blow for Wales who up to this point looked the team who should be in front.
In the closing minutes Fishlock floated the ball into the Belgium 6 yard area striking the head of Heleen Jaques who could only watch the ball, which looked goal bound With Van Poucke beaten the ball went inches wide of her goal a cruel blow for Wales who deserved to level.
But it was not to be and on the final whistle it was Belgium who went away with the 3 points, a cruel blow to a fine Welsh performance.
Karl Pedersen.
