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Republic of Ireland host Wales in second leg of Euro 2025 play-off final after 1-1 draw in first leg Tonight's victors will seal a place at next year's tournament in Switzerland Wales looking to qualify for first major tournament, while Republic of Ireland are targeting first European Championship appearance Watch TV coverage or listen to BBC Radio Wales or BBC Radio Cymru commentaries via toggle button above Lily Woodham put Wales ahead in first leg, before Olivia Clark's own goal levelled the tie Away goals rule is not in place in play-off ties Republic of Ireland make one change as Jessie Stapleton starts, while Wales bring in Josie Green and Hannah Cain Denise O'Sullivan hits bar for hosts with drive from outside the box as first half ends goalless Hannah Cain penalty puts Wales in front after VAR spots handball by Anna Patten Substitute Carrie Jones doubles Welsh lead as star player Jess Fishlock is forced with injury Anna Patten heads home to set up dramatic finale Dafydd Pritchard As goalless first halves go, that was eventful. Republic of Ireland have come closest to the opening goal with Denise O'Sullivan hitting the bar, but both teams have had chances. It's still very finely poised. Republic of Ireland 0-0 Wales (1-1) Kath Morgan Former Wales captain on BBC Radio Cymru These next few minutes are so important not to concede. Republic of Ireland 0-0 Wales (1-1) Helen Ward Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Wales Not a bad shot on your weaker left foot, I don't think it was too far away. Republic of Ireland 0-0 Wales (1-1) Irish centre-back Niamh Fahey lets fly with a thunderous half-volley from 30 yards which whistles just past the post. The hosts finishing this first half strongly. Republic of Ireland 0-0 Wales (1-1) A promising position for Republic of Ireland with a free-kick wide on the left, level with the Wales box, which Ruesha Littlejohn will take. However, Wales defend solidly again and manage to clear. Republic of Ireland 0-0 Wales (1-1) Helen Ward Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Wales I think Rhiannon Roberts let go just in time for it not to be a penalty. But the balls into the box are looking dangerous. Republic of Ireland 0-0 Wales (1-1) Nia Jones Former Wales international on Match of the Day Wales If Hannah Cain stays on the pitch in the second half, I am sure Rhian Wilkinson will be asking her to hold it up more. If not, Kayleigh Barton may well be coming on. Republic of Ireland 0-0 Wales (1-1) Republic of Ireland are on the attack and there are some appeals for a penalty as Kyra Carusa falls in the box, to no avail. Heather Payne then sees her shot saved by Olivia Clark. Republic of Ireland 0-0 Wales (1-1) Kath Morgan Former Wales captain on BBC Radio Cymru I know it's a big game, but you still have to follow the rules. Rachel Rowe needs to read the script as well, if she goes down, Katie Mc Cabe is off the pitch. Republic 0-0 Wales (1-1) Michael Pearlman BBC Sport Wales at the Aviva Stadium Katie Mc Cabe is now surely one foul away from a red card. She's walking a tightrope for the rest of this tie. Republic of Ireland 0-0 Wales (1-1) Helen Ward Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Wales She [Katie Mc Cabe] is very, very lucky, and she knows it. Republic of Ireland 0-0 Wales (1-1) Nia Jones Former Wales international on Match of the Day Wales You can see why Wales are incensed. Katie Mc Cabe is nowhere near the ball there. On a yellow card, you can't do that. Republic of Ireland 0-0 Wales (1-1) Katie Mc Cabe needs to be careful here. The Irish captain, already booked, has a wild hack at Rachel Rowe but doesn't quite connect. Just as well. Mc Cabe could have been sent off there. Republic of Ireland 0-0 Wales (1-1) Michael Pearlman BBC Sport Wales at the Aviva Stadium We have seen more excitement in the past 10 minutes than the previous 110. Republic of Ireland 0-0 Wales (1-1) This has been an entertaining game considering it remains goalless. There have been plenty of chances for both teams, who look very evenly matched once again. Republic of Ireland 0-0 Wales (1-1) Helen Ward Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Wales A really good effort from Lily Woodham, she gets plenty of whip on it. The goalkeeper reads it well to be fair. Republic of Ireland 0-0 Wales (1-1) Nia Jones Former Wales international on Match of the Day Wales It's a fantastic shot from Rhiannon Roberts on the turn. The player of the match on Friday, she's looking to make an even bigger impact here. Republic of Ireland 0-0 Wales (1-1) Kath Morgan Former Wales captain on BBC Radio Cymru Rhiannon Roberts does very well, a low effort, on the turn. So close. Republic of Ireland 0-0 Wales (1-1) Two chances for Wales in quick succession. Lily Woodham forces Irish keeper Courtney Brosnan into a decent save with a well-hit left-footed free-kick from 25 yards. Woodham takes the subsequent corner, and Brosnan pulls off another - even better save - to deny Rhiannon Roberts' low shot on the turn. Ireland are able to see off the danger from the next corner. Republic of Ireland 0-0 Wales (1-1) Kath Morgan Former Wales captain on BBC Radio Cymru On Friday I said the back three didn't overplay, tonight they're doing that. They looked a lot better on Friday night. Carrie Jones made her Wales debut as a 15-year old Wales made history by reaching a major women's tournament for the first time as they stunned the Republic of Ireland in Dublin in front of a crowd of 25, 832. After a first half in which Ireland came closest to breaking the deadlock through Denise O’Sullivan’s stunning effort that smashed the upright, Wales took the lead after the break as Hannah Cain converted from the spot after Anna Patten’s handball. An injury to Jess Fishlock looked like it could derail Wales’ dream, but substitute Carrie Jones scored their second within moments of her introduction after Ireland’s high defensive line was beaten by a brilliant pass by their tormentor-in-chief, Lily Woodham. Patten’s late header gave Ireland the chance to set-up a grandstand finish and eight minutes of injury time ensured plenty of time for an equaliser. The hosts pushed and pushed but, after years of misfortune, Wales enjoyed some luck and somehow managed to preserve their advantage. Rhian Wilkinson’s side can now look forward to taking their place in this summer’s European Championships in Switzerland after securing by far the most significant victory in their history. Wales captain Angharad James, usually not one for any level of hyperbole, said before the match that this was the biggest game of the Wales players’ lives and with the pressure on, they rode their luck to stun the hosts and secure a win that will live in the all-time annuls of history. Wales’ journey from being a nation where women’s football was an afterthrought has been up and down, but belief that they would qualify for a major finals has never diminished and they will now take their place at football’s top table for the first time. After three near misses in qualification for the past three major tournaments, Wales were bidding to finally get over the line and boss Wilkinson made two changes, including surprisingly leaving out Liverpool’s Ceri Holland, who scored the winning goal in the play-off semi-final. Both sides were in don’t-lose mode in the first leg of the tie, as a cagey contest drifted to a draw, and it was clear from the early exchanges that a tight and tense affair was an inevitability. The first effort on goal on 14 minutes saw Fishlock’s volley force Courtney Brosnan into a comfortable save, with Ireland enjoying plenty of possession but struggling to impose themselves in an attacking sense. However, without striker Elise Hughes Wales were again lacking in an ability to keep the ball in attacking areas and the hosts came within a whisker of leading on 23 minutes as O’Sullivan’s fantastic curling effort hammered against the crossbar with Wales goalkeeper Olivia Clark beaten. Ireland again came close moments later as Katie Mc Cabe found space to unleash a long-range left-footed effort that fizzed wide of Clark’s far post. The home side were knocking louder and louder in search of an opener and Julie Russell thought she had found a breakthrough on 30 minutes, but Clark denied her with a brilliant one-handed save. Brosnan was then called into action at the other end to deny Woodham from a 25-yard free-kick - with Wales also testing Brosnan from the subsequent corner, but she got down brilliantly to turn Rhiannon Roberts’ shot on the turn around the post. In a contest of small margins Wales were incensed on 38 minutes that referee Marta Huerta de Aza opted not to show a second yellow card to Mc Cabe after she swiped at Rachel Rowe who stayed on her feet. Ireland came close twice before the interval, but Heather Payne’s effort was saved by Clark and defender Niamh Fahey’s long-range effort was just wide. There were more good chances created in the opening half than in the opening tie, but Wales had the best opportunity to break the stalemate as Patten handled a Wales set-piece with the penalty awarded after a VAR check. Cain kept her composure with the spot-kick to send Brosnan the wrong way as Wales regained the lead in the tie. They might have doubled their advantage on 55 minutes, but Cain was inches away from converting Rowe’s teasing cross. The Wales goal forced Ireland into a more attacking mode and created spaces for the visitors who broke brilliantly on the hour mark, but James’ shot was saved by Brosnan to keep the hosts in the tie. Wales’ hopes of maintaining their lead suffered a seismic blow when Fishlock was forced off by injury on 64 minutes, with her emotional walk off the field a huge concern for Wilkinson’s side. However, within two minutes Wales had doubled their advantage as Ireland got their offside trap all wrong as sub Ffion Morgan nicked the ball and from Woodham’s perfect pass, Fishlock’s replacement Jones kept her composure to find the bottom corner from 20 yards out. The second goal sucked the life and belief from the hosts for a spell, but just when hope seemed lost they got right back into the contest on 85 minutes when Patten headed home after Roberts blocked her initial effort on the line. Ireland thought they had levelled when a long throw caused chaos in the Welsh defence, but they scrambled the ball away centimetres from it crossing the line with Clark beaten, before Roberts’ incredible block denied substitute Leanne Kiernan and Mc Cabe’s shot deflected inches over. Eight minutes of injury time felt like a lifetime for Wales, but they held on to become history-makers and celebrated the win of their lives with their small travelling contingent of supporters in emotional scenes that will live long in the memory. Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Last Updated 3rd December 2024 at 21: 24 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Eileen Gleeson Formation: 4 - 3 - 3 Manager: Rhian Wilkinson Formation: 4 - 3 - 2 - 1 Manager: Eileen Gleeson Formation: 4 - 3 - 3 Manager: Rhian Wilkinson Formation: 4 - 3 - 2 - 1 To watch and listen, you need to enable Java Script in your browser. Republic of Ireland v Wales. BBC Radio Wales. Audio Republic of Ireland v Wales BBC Radio Wales Listen live Gweriniaeth Iwerddon v Cymru. BBC Radio Cymru. 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