Frustration for Cymru in Reykjavik

Iceland 1-0 Cymru

• Frustrating result in Reykjavik after dominating possession 
• Carrie Jones has Cymru’s best opportunity to score
• Denmark next after beating Germany 2-0 in Nations League group

Cymru enjoyed the better of the possession throughout this UEFA Women’s Nations League Group A match but were unable to ask enough of Iceland goalkeeper Telma Ivarsdottir when they got into the final third. 

Iceland rarely troubled Olivia Clark’s goal but were happy to sit deep after Glodis Viggosdottir’s header broke the deadlock inside the 18th minute. 

Carrie Jones’ effort in the first half was the best Cymru enjoyed in front of goal while they also asked questions late on, but the home side held firm to frustrate the visitors. 

It wasn’t the start Grainger’s side would have hoped for in the competition but there were positives for Cymru to take into Tuesday’s game as they welcome Denmark, who beat top seeds Germany, to Cardiff on Tuesday.

Following the match, Grainger’s frustration with the result was evident: “Initial feelings are frustration. I think that we’ve dominated the game but what we’ve learned tonight is that when you play against the best teams, fine margins normally matter and for us today conceding the set play is a disappointing way to lose the game. 

“The way we wanted to play is how we played today but we failed to get a goal. We’ve got our style and the way we want to score goals. It’s fine margins.”

Grainger certainly recognises the positives to take from the game and added: “We go home, recover and then all focus is on the Denmark game Tuesday and we will prepare the best we can to put a performance.”

Cymru captain Sophie Ingle was equally as frustrated and added: “We’re frustrated. We had a lot of the ball, they had one corner and scored from it. I thought we dominated the game. We’ve got belief and I think we can take the positives from the game and put that into Denmark.”

Cymru welcome Denmark to Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday (26 September), who come into the match after beating Germany 2-0. Tickets for the game are available at faw.cymru/tickets.