The journey to the Women's World Cup is never a straightforward one, and Wales were reminded of that harsh reality in the cauldron of Podgorica. Cymru...
The journey to the Women's World Cup is never a straightforward one, and Wales were reminded of that harsh reality in the cauldron of Podgorica. Cymru were forced to settle for a share of the spoils against a stubborn Montenegro side, a result that feels more like two points dropped than one gained when you consider the broader context of the qualifying group.From the opening whistle, the home side set their stall out with a deep, disciplined low block. Montenegro were content to absorb pressure, cede possession, and look for any scraps on the counter. Wales, for all their technical superiority and patient build up play, lacked the necessary incision in the final third. They dominated the ball, moving it from flank to flank, but too often found a wall of blue shirts when they tried to penetrate. The real frustration for the travelling support will be the lack of clinical finishing. When the chances did come, and they did, the final product was either rushed or directed straight at the goalkeeper. In these tight qualifiers, you simply cannot afford to be so wasteful.There was a moment of genuine quality that offered a flicker of hope, a well worked move that saw the ball in the net, only for the linesman's flag to cut the celebrations short. It was one of those nights. The referee had a few decisions to make that left the Welsh bench incandescent, with a couple of robust challenges going unpunished. But you cannot blame the officials when you fail to convert your own opportunities. Montenegro, to their credit, defended for their lives. They were organised, they were brave, and they carried a genuine threat on the break. Their goal was a lesson in transitional football, a swift move that carved open the Welsh backline and left the keeper with no chance. It was the sucker punch Wales feared.The response from Rhian Wilkinson's side was spirited. They threw bodies forward, peppered the box with crosses, and asked questions of the Montenegro rearguard. The equaliser, when it finally arrived, was a messy, scrappy affair. A corner was half cleared, the ball dropped in the mixer, and a Welsh boot got the decisive touch to bundle it over the line. It was not pretty, but it was vital. That goal kept the campaign on life support.So where does this leave Wales It leaves them in a fight. A point on the road in this group is not a disaster, but the performance will cause concern. The lack of tactical flexibility when faced with a packed defence is a recurring theme. They need to find a plan B, a way to unlock the door when the pretty patterns fail. The attacking players must take a long, hard look at themselves. In the final analysis, this was a night of what might have been. The fight is still there, but the margin for error is now gone. Squeaky bum time has arrived early.
