Wales denied by late Ukraine equaliser

Nicole Kozlova’s last-gasp equaliser denied Wales three points in their Women’s Euro 2025 qualifier against Ukraine in Poland.

Kozlova struck seven minutes into stoppage-time to earn her side a 2-2 draw that cost Wales top spot in Group B4 with two games left to play.

However, the result meant they still clinched a place in the Euro 2025 playoffs.

Four days after they were held to a 1-1 draw by the same team in Llanelli, Wales struggled to gain the initiative and went in at half-time a goal behind.

Yana Kalinina finished off a swift counter-attacking move to give her side a deserved 33rd-minute lead in a half in which the visitors failed to create any clear-cut chances.

Wales improved after the break and drew level on 73 minutes when Kayleigh Barton rammed home a penalty after being fouled in the box by Anna Petryk.

Two minutes later, Jess Fishlock put her side in front with a stunning 25-yard effort that pulled her within one goal of equalling Helen Ward’s all-time record of 44 for her country.

WHAT. A. HIT.

Jess Fishlock 👑🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿@BBCSportWales pic.twitter.com/U1sxHsNd2h

— TheWelshDragon 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🐉 (@TheWelshDragon9) June 4, 2024

But Wales were lucky to escape when Gemma Evans struck her own post before Kozlova’s effort earned Ukraine a point their performance deserved.

Croatia’s win over Kosovo saw Wales sink to second place in the group but two wins in their final two games will still be enough to ensure Rhian Wilkinson’s side finish top.