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    Cymru vs. Northern Ireland | Friendly match – Football – Female – A

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        Live ReportMatch Summary

        1. Full-time verdict: A dominant performance and convincing 4-1 win for Cymru. Northern Ireland put up more of a fight in the 2nd half and scored a fine consolation goal but the game was already beyond them as Fishlock, James, Cain and Rowe earned Cymru a confidence-boosting win in front of a record crowd for a home friendly international. This is another important and positive step in the journey for Gemma Grainger and her squad.

        2. 87'

          Jess Fishlock on the receiving end of a heavy challenge there and the influential star and goalscorer is replaced by Megan Wynne for the final exchanges.

        3. 87'

          Substitution

          WYNNE Megan replaces FISHLOCK Jessica Anne

        4. A new record attendance for a Cymru women’s home international friendly as 6,831 fans come out to support Gemma Grainger and her side. Diolch,

        5. 78'

          Substitution

          RAFFERTY replaces BURROWS

        6. 77'

          Substitution

          POWELL Ella replaces MORGAN Esther

        7. 75'

          Yellow card

          FURNESS

        8. 73'

          A goal for Northern Ireland as Lauren Wade beats Evans and then Clark with a superb finish from a tight angle to bring her side back into the match against the run of play. That will be frustrating for the home side who looked good value for keeping a clean-sheet tonight.

        9. 73'

          Goal

          WADE

        10. Helen Ward says goodbye to the Red Wall at half-time.

        11. 68'

          A triple change from Cymru as Josie Green, Ffion Morgan and Elise Hughes all enter the field as Cain, Ladd and Rowe depart. The trio will be keen to play their part in this dominant display.

        12. 68'

          Substitution

          MORGAN Ffion Alys replaces ROWE Rachel

        13. 68'

          Substitution

          GREEN Josie replaces LADD Hayley

        14. 68'

          Substitution

          HUGHES Elise replaces CAIN Hannah

        15. 65'

          Substitution

          WILSON replaces MASON

        16. 64'

          GOAL!! Rachel Rowe makes it 4-0 to Cymru. Surely game over now as Northern Ireland make another double change.

        17. 64'

          Goal

          ROWE Rachel

        18. 62'

          Plenty of discussion between Cymru manager Gemma Grainger and new assistant Jon Grey on the edge of the technical area. Expect a few changes soon from the home side.

        19. Angharad James makes no mistake as she scores the second goal of the game,

        20. Former striker Helen Ward waved farewell to the Red Wall at half-time following her recent retirement from the international game. The all-time leading goalscorer in Cymru history will have enjoyed that opening half.

        21. 52'

          A quieter start to the 2nd half. Northern Ireland have clearly regrouped during the interval and made two changes, but Cymru will be keen to replicate their form in front of goal and add to their three goals.

        22. 46'

          Substitution

          FURNESS replaces CALLAGHAN

        23. 46'

          Substitution

          HOLLOWAY replaces VANCE

        24. 46'

          Substitution

          MCCARRON replaces BELL

        25. Cymru defender Gemma Evans receives her 50th international cap before kick-off.

        26. 45'

          Half-time verdict: Plenty for the Cymru fans to celebrate as goals from Fishlock, James and Cain put the home side 3-0 ahead at half-time. Northern Ireland did start to come into the game in the final minutes but Grainger’s side have been dominant for long periods of this international friendly. This has been an impressive performance from Cymru and the Red Wall will expect the same in the 2nd half.

        27. 40'

          Ceri Holland controls the ball as Cymru push forward

        28. 35'

          An injury gives both managers the opportunity to get their players together on the touchline. Grainger will be delighted at the way her side have applied themselves while Waterworth will be desperate for his team to get to half-time without conceding a fourth goal.

        29. 30'

          GOAL!! Back from a long-term injury, Hannah Cain scores her first Cymru goal to extend this convincing and comfortable lead at the Cardiff City Stadium.

        30. 30'

          Goal

          CAIN Hannah

        31. 30'

          Jess Fishlock celebrates her opening goal

        32. 25'

          GOAL!! Angharad James doubles the lead! Combining with fellow centurion Fishlock the midfielder made no mistake to slot the ball past Turner in the Irish goal. Cymru putting all the pressure on the Northern Ireland defence now as Grainger’s side look to build on their early and deserved lead.

        33. 25'

          Goal

          JAMES Angharad

        34. 16'

          GOAL!! Jess Fishlock opens the scoring for Cymru from close-range. The most-capped player in Cymru history wasn’t ever going to miss that opportunity to score her 36th senior international goal.

        35. 10'

          Goal

          FISHLOCK Jess

        36. 10'

          Andy Waterworth takes temporary charge of Northern Ireland for the first time this evening following the departure of Kenny Shiels. Both managers have been vocal from their technical areas early on with Cymru looking the more creative and Grainger will be pleased with the way her team have started the match.

        37. 6'

          A positive start from Cymru in the opening exchanges as Northern Ireland are kept in their own half. Before the match defender Gemma Evans was presented with her 50th cap which she achieved at the Pinatar Cup back in February.

        38. 6 April, 2023 7:09 pm

          Kick off is fast approaching here at the Cardiff City Stadium and the crowd are ready as the teams emerge from the tunnel for the national anthems.

        39. 6 April, 2023 6:46 pm

        42. 6 April, 2023 5:46 pm

          The Cymru starting line-up has been announced for the friendly against Northern Ireland this evening. Goalkeeper Olivia Clark has been selected in strong XI with Sophie Ingle once again captaining the side on her 127th senior international appearance alongside fellow centurions Jess Fishlock and Angharad James.

        43. 6 April, 2023 5:13 pm

        44. 6 April, 2023 5:12 pm

          Cymru were last in action in February when Gemma Grainger’s side competed at the Pinatar Cup in Spain. Kayleigh Green scored the decisive goal in the opening 1-0 win over the Philippines before 0-0 and 1-1 draws against Iceland and Scotland respectively. The tournament also marked the end of Helen Ward’s international career as she announced her retirement shortly afterwards.

          The tournament was another important step for Cymru in preparing for the UEFA Women’s Nations League which starts in September, and Grainger will be keen to see the progress from Pinatar put into practice against Northern Ireland at the Cardiff City Stadium this evening.

        46. 6 April, 2023 10:45 am

        48. 6 April, 2023 10:43 am

          Northern Ireland narrowly finished above Cymru to qualify for the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 finals in England but Kenny Shiels’ side failed to make it out of the group stages of the competition with three defeats from their three games.

          Shiels left his position earlier this year and Andy Waterworth, the Irish FA’s head of elite player development, will take charge of the side at the Cardiff City Stadium this evening . “I have enjoyed my time as senior women’s manager immensely,” said Shiels following his departure. “I have worked hard with the players to raise their expectations and change their style of play so that we were a team to be reckoned with.

          “This success has generated record attendance figures at senior women’s games and I was delighted to see so many of the Green and White Army travel to England to cheer us on last summer at the Euros. I want to thank everyone who has backed me, and the team, during my time as manager.”

        49. 6 April, 2023 10:34 am

        50. 6 April, 2023 10:33 am

          Cymru return to action at the Cardiff City Stadium this evening as Gemma Grainger’s side take on Northern Ireland (7.15pm) in preparation for the inaugural UEFA Women’s Nations League which starts in September.

          Striker Kayleigh Green misses out through injury while the fitness of Lily Woodham and Carrie Jones remains in the balance. However, Ellen Jones could make her senior Cymru debut having previously worked with Grainger at intermediate level with England.

          “It feels so nice to be back and have the opportunity to play in front of our own fans,” said Grainger on Wednesday. “We have sold over 6,000 tickets already, which trebles our record for a friendly. We’re looking ahead to that Nations League draw on 2 May and we know our 10-day windows will have home and away game elements, so this gives us a chance to rehearse and get in to the swing of that.”

          Following the match against Northern Ireland, Cymru head to Guimarães to take on Portugal in a second friendly on Tuesday, 11 April.

        52. There is no live report available for this match

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          Substitutes

            Starting

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                Table

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                Match Info

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                Referee

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