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Wales and Republic of Ireland draw first leg of Euro 2025 play-off final, with winners to seal a place in Switzerland next summer Second leg to come in Dublin on Tuesday Wales' women aiming to qualify for a first major tournament Republic of Ireland's women seeking first European Championship appearance after making major-tournament debut at 2023 World Cup Crowd at Cardiff City Stadium surpasses previous 15, 200 record for a home Wales women's international Lily Woodham's calm finish gives Wales early lead Olivia Clark own goal earns draw for Republic of Ireland as Ruesha Littlejohn's long-range effort hits bar and goes in off Wales keeper Dafydd Pritchard Wales 1-1 Republic of Ireland Tonight's record crowd for a Wales women's home game is confirmed as 16, 845. Wales 1-1 Republic of Ireland Kath Morgan Former Wales captain on BBC Radio Cymru Josie Green's a more defensive player. Fresh legs, and it's keeping Ceri Holland for the second leg as we'll need these players again in four days. Wales 1-1 Republic of Ireland Rachel Rowe is booked for Wales. Wales 1-1 Republic of Ireland Another change for Wales with Josie Green coming on for Ceri Holland. A sign that Rhian Wilkinson would happily accept a draw now? Wales 1-1 Republic of Ireland Helen Ward Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Wales Tensions are starting to rise and the crowd are getting into it a little bit more. They've come under a bit of pressure in the last few minutes, Wales. Wales 1-1 Republic of Ireland Republic of Ireland make a double substitution. Jessie Stapleton comes on for Ruesha Littlejohn, while Leanne Kiernan is on for Julie Russell. Wales 1-1 Republic of Ireland Helen Ward Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Wales She's kept her side level there, fantastic reaction save from Olivia Clark. Wales 1-1 Republic of Ireland Great save! After an initial short corner, Republic of Ireland work the ball into the penalty area, where centre-back Caitlin Hayes connects with a sweet volley. It looks to be flying into the net but Olivia Clark does brilliantly to tip it over. Wales 1-1 Republic of Ireland Helen Ward Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Wales It's a really interesting dynamic at this stage. Neither team wanting to over commit, but also don't want to miss an opportunity to go ahead and take a lead into the second game. Wales 1-1 Republic of Ireland Republic of Ireland on the attack with Denise O'Sullivan and Marrisa Sheva combining on the right to win a corner, which Katie Mc Cabe will take. Wales 1-1 Republic of Ireland Kath Morgan Former Wales captain on BBC Radio Cymru After watching the games throughout the campaign so far, home and away, this is as good as Wales have played, in terms of a complete performance. Wales 1-1 Republic of Ireland Just before Fishlock's free-kick, Wales striker Kayleigh Barton came on for Ffion Morgan. That's two changes for Wales now. Wales 1-1 Republic of Ireland Helen Ward Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Wales I think it's a foul. She leads with the arm, but it's not an elbow as such. I think a yellow is about right. But when you go and shove another player, I don't think you can get away with that, but VAR cannot step in to say it's a second yellow. She has got away with one there for me. Wales 1-1 Republic of Ireland The other result of Littlejohn's elbow is a free-kick for Wales within shooting distance. Jess Fishlock curls a shot over the wall but tamely into Courtney Brosnan's arms. Wales 1-1 Republic of Ireland You wait 69 minutes for a yellow card then two come at once. Republic of Ireland's Ruesha Littlejohn is booked for catching Rachel Rowe with her elbow. Then Wales' Jess Fishlock sees yellow for something she said. Wales 1-1 Republic of Ireland Wales have a free-kick in a decent position, wide on the left, level with the Republic of Ireland box. Ceri Holland crosses with her right foot but the visitors see it out for a throw-in. Wales 1-1 Republic of Ireland Gwennan Harries Former Wales striker on Match of the Day Wales Wales have been better in terms of competing for the second balls in the second half. So many times in the first half, we just saw Ireland picking them up. Wales 1-1 Republic of Ireland Republic of Ireland enjoy a little spell of possession by the Wales penalty area but the home side are able to defend and win a goal kick. Nothing between these teams at the moment. Wales 1-1 Republic of Ireland Helen Ward Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Wales A great win by Lily Woodham, maybe a little bit aggressive from Carrie Jones who gets her shot off. A decent enough effort, but it's confidence for Wales. Wales 1-1 Republic of Ireland Kath Morgan Former Wales captain on BBC Radio Cymru We're putting Ireland under pressure. Carrie Jones, a player with confidence. She's on top of her game at the moment, playing out in Sweden. Ireland and Wales will meet on Tuesday at the Aviva Stadium with a spot at Euro 2025 the reward for the winner Wales and Republic of Ireland settled for a 1-1 draw in the Welsh capital that leaves both nations still dreaming of a place at Euro 2025. An unfortunate own goal from Wales goalkeeper Olivia Clark cancelled out Lily Woodham’s opportunistic opener in front of a record crowd at the Cardiff City Stadium for a Wales women’s international. Woodham had given Wales a dream start when scored from their first shot, prodding home at the far post after Ireland failed to clear Jess Fishlock’s cross. However, Ireland equalised in unusual fashion when Clark was caught out by a long-range effort from Ruesha Littlejohn that hit the crossbar and crossed the line after striking Clark’s head. Wales had the better opportunities after the interval but Ireland came closest to a winner through Caitlin Hayes’ turn and shot, but Clark produced a stunning save to keep the scores level. The two nations will now meet in Dublin at the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday, 3 December with all still to play for after a cagey and absorbing contest in Cardiff. The hand of history was on the shoulders of both sets of players as Wales chase a first major tournament appearance and Ireland a first Euros berth, with a record crowd of almost 17, 000 in attendance. After months of talk of destiny and making history, Wales’ players were tasked with making their dreams a reality as they chase a first major finals appearance and they produced an excellent display, their best under boss Rhian Wilkinson as they showed they will be no pushovers in Dublin. For their greatest ever player, Fishlock, time is running out with Wales’ record appearance-maker and goalscorer turning 38 in January, while she will be in her 40s by the time of the next World Cup. For Fishlock this tie arguably represents her now or never moment in terms of playing at a major finals and both managers had warned pre-match that they expected a cagey contest, which is exactly what we got. Wales struggled to impose themselves in the early exchanges with Julie Russell missing the first big chance of the match as she scooped the ball wide after a long ball over the top caused Wales trouble. Lily Woodham has now scored in back-to-back games against Republic of Ireland However, it was not long until Fishlock was into the action and from her first telling contribution it was Wales who stole the advantage as Fishlock timed a run perfectly to beat Ireland’s offside trap and when Caitlin Hayes could only divert Fishlock’s cross, Woodham was in the perfect place to guide a first-time finish past Courtney Brosnan. However, Wales’ control of the contest lasted only 14 minutes as Ireland equalised in unusual circumstances as Littlejohn’s speculative effort from 35-yards caught out Wales goalkeeper Clark who tipped the ball on the upright as she scrambled back, only for the ball to divert into the goal off the back of her head. It was a cruel way for Wales to concede but no less than Ireland deserved from a first period where Wales scored with their only effort on goal. Wales almost repeated that feat at the start of the second half as forward Ffion Morgan finally found some space, but she curled wide. The hosts were improved after the interval and substitute Carrie Jones forced Brosnan to save from a long-range effort after Hayes’ last-gasp block denied a Rhiannon Roberts header. With Fishlock dropping into a more central role Wales looked more controlled and Fishlock’s 25-yard freekick was saved by Brosnan as the hosts pushed for a winner. However, it was Ireland who came closest to a second goal as Hayes shot on the turn as Wales failed to clear a set-piece and Clark produced a brilliant save to turn the ball over the crossbar. Neither side was willing to risk over-committing to score a winner due to the risk of conceding, but it was Wales who came closest as substitute Kayleigh Barton’s injury-time cross just evaded Jones. 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