Reading midfielder Jess Fishlock was hugely impressive for Wales against Belarus this evening but their 3-0 victory at Rodney Parade in Newport was not enough to keep the nation’s UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 qualification hopes alive.
The veteran campaigner netted one goal and created another as Jayne Ludlow’s side ended their qualification campaign impressively in South Wales.
Fishlock teed up Reading teammate Natasha Harding to net the opening goal for Wales after a quarter of an hour, the forward prodding home from close range.
The Reading theme continued throughout the match with The Royals forward Rachel Rowe netting the game’s second goal in the 34th minute before Fishlock got her name on the scoresheet in the second half from the penalty spot after club teammate Harding had been fouled in the area. That goal was Fishlock’s 30th for her country at senior level.
Wales knew that the victory would only be good enough to secure a play-off place if Northern Ireland were to slip up against the group’s bottom side the Faroe Islands in Belfast. As it turned out, it wasn’t to be Wales’ night with Kenny Shiels’ Northern Ireland side claiming the runners-up spot courtesy of a better head-to-head record as they defeated the Faroe Islands 5-1.
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