Wales faced a setback in their Euro 2025 qualifying hopes, suffering a 2-1 defeat to Slovakia in the playoff semi-final first leg. Despite a strong start, Wales allowed Slovakia to seize control, culminating in two quick second-half goals. Ffion Morgan's late strike offered some hope for the return leg, as Wales aims to overcome the deficit at home in Cardiff to keep their aspirations alive.
The hosts, Slovakia, capitalized on Wales' defensive errors, with Martina Surnovska scoring from distance early in the second half. Maria Mikolajova followed up with a magnificent swerving free-kick that extended Slovakia's lead. Wales struggled defensively, particularly after initial promising opportunities went astray, allowing the Slovaks to dominate the match through disciplined defensive play and timely shooting.
Wales showed signs of improvement with the introduction of Jess Fishlock late in the game, which reinvigorated their attack. Morgan's goal from a clever play by Fishlock exemplified this turnaround. However, the Welsh side must address their defensive lapses quickly to form a cohesive strategy ahead of the critical second leg that will determine their fate in the playoff.
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