Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Wales, Republic of Ireland, Scotland and NI step closer to EURO 2025 πŸ“

Must read

Wales, Republic of Ireland, Scotland and NI step closer to EURO 2025 πŸ“

Teams across Europe are battling for the last seven final spots at UEFA Women’s EURO 2025.

Here is who booked their spot in Round 2 of the qualifiers.


Wales secure Slovakia comeback in ET

Scorers: Fishlock 39β€², Holland 112β€²

Down on aggregate heading into this clash, Wales relied on veteran Jess Fishlock to kickstart a 2-0 win over Slovakia and reached the next round 3-2 on aggregate.

The 37-year-old midfielder went one-on-one with goalkeeper Maria Korenciova and dinked the ball over her from a tight angle.

It was Fishlock’s 46th goal in her 156th appearance for Wales, and ultimately sent the match to extra-time 2-2 on aggregate.

With potential penalties looming, he hosts found the back of the net once more to complete the comeback via defender Ceri Holland’s finish from a tight angle after a VAR check.

All Round 2 fixtures are listed below.


Portugal thump 10-player Azerbaijan

Scorers: Diana Silva 15β€², 26β€², Dolores Silva 57β€², Pinto 86β€². Red: Bozdag 71β€².

After a statement win in the first leg, Portugal thumped another four goals past Azerbaijan to reach the next round of qualifiers (8-1 on aggregate).

It was one-way traffic for the hosts. Silva’s name was on the scoresheet three times, but only through two players.

Diana Silva secured an 11-minute brace to put Portugal again in the driver’s seat before Dolores Silva’s penalty put the second leg to bed.

A late goal from Fatima Pinto, which arrived after Azerbaijan midfielder Peritan Bozdag was sent off, then rounded out another dominant showing.

All Round 2 fixtures are listed below.


Republic of Ireland cruise past Georgia

Scorers: Russell 3β€², Caursa 31β€², McCabe 55β€²

Thanks to a thumping win away, the damage was already done against Georgia for the Republic of Ireland. A 3-0 win (9-0 on aggregate) at home secured their spot in the next round of qualifiers.

The deadlock broke in the blink of an eye when Julie Russell scored her seventh international goal after Marissa Sheva’s shot was saved. Kyra Caruso then doubled the lead after she raced through on goal.

One Katie McCabe turned the centre of attention both positively and negatively. The skipper missed a penalty as the ball went over the bar but later made up for it with a powerful drive from near the edge of the box.

All Round 2 fixtures are listed below.


Scotland stars help beat Hungary

Scorers: Kerr 17β€², Cuthbert 31β€², Weir 55β€², Thomas 65β€²

Scotland booked their spot in Round 2 of the qualifiers after making the most of their home advantage and thumping Hungary 4-0 (5-0 on aggregate).

All the big names were dazzling, with four different goal scorers on the night.

Samantha Kerr blasted home a ball from Lisa Evans, and despite hitting the crossbar, it hit off the goalkeeper and into the net. Erin Cuthbert then doubled things after finding the top corner from the edge of the box.

Martha Thomas’ back-heel pass set up Caroline Weir for 3-0, and the provider turned scorer after slotting home an initially blocked shot to help Scotland move on.

All Round 2 fixtures are listed below.


NI need ET to edge Croatia

Scorer: Wade 114β€²

Tied 1-1 on aggregate, Northern Ireland and Croatia needed some luck and extra time to decide this clash 1-0 (2-1 on aggregate).

Simone Magill hit the woodwork for the hosts minutes into the first half while goalkeeper Jacqueline Burns was forced to make a handful of saves.

However, the visitors registered more shots on target, including one from Petra Pezelj, during the dying moments of regular time.

A hero eventually rose from the pitch as the match entered an extra 30 minutes.

Lauren Wade claimed that honour as her strike from 20 yards out nestled into the net, and Northern Ireland squeezed through to Round 2 of the qualifiers. All Round 2 fixtures are listed below.


Belgium rout Greece

Scorers: Van Kerkhoven 36β€², 57β€², Wullaert 39β€², 45+4β€², Missipo 55β€²

After a goalless draw in the first leg, Belgium let the goals fly at home against Greece in a 5-0 win to reach the next round of the qualifiers.

It was one-way traffic, with the hosts registering 23 attempts to two for the visitors, seven of which hit the target.

Ella van Kerkhoven opened the scoring with a header before Tessa Wullaert doubled the lead. Both players then scored in the opposite order, with a goal from Kassandra Missipo in between.

Wullaert could have secured a hat-trick, too, but saw an attempt hit the woodwork late as Belgium cruised through. All Round 2 fixtures are listed below.


Other results…


Round 2 ties:

The two-legged ties will occur between 27 November and 3 December.

The winners from Round 2 will compete alongside hosts Switzerland and direct qualifiers Denmark, England, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain.

Latest article