Cymru secured an impressive 3-2 victory over EURO quarter-finalists Switzerland in their final match of 2025 at Estadio Chapín.
Goals from Sophie Ingle, Hannah Cain and substitute Lily Woodham earned Cymru their first win since their memorable play-off triumph over the Republic of Ireland in Dublin last December.
Head coach Rhian Wilkinson made four changes to the side that drew 1–1 with Korea Republic on Friday. Safia Middleton-Patel, Mia Ross, Ceri Holland and Rachel Rowe all came into the starting XI, while Olivia Clark, Rhiannon Roberts, Mared Griffiths and Woodham dropped to the bench. The match also marked milestone occasions for both Holland and Ffion Morgan, who made their 50th senior international appearances.
Cymru made a bright start to proceedings and struck first after 16 minutes. Ingle reacted quickest to Holland’s high cross into the box, rising above Elvira Herzog to head home her second goal in as many games for the first time since 2021. Their advantage was short-lived, however, as Switzerland equalised just three minutes later. Aurélie Csillag burst through the Cymru backline before unleashing a powerful shot beyond the reach of Middleton-Patel.
Despite the leveller, Cymru almost restored their lead soon after. A slick passage of play sent Cain free down the right, and her cut-back found Rowe, whose driven effort just cleared the crossbar.
Cymru did finally reclaim the lead on 34 minutes. A terrific pass from Ingle split the Swiss defence and found Cain’s well-timed run in behind. She produced a clever, lofted finish over the advancing Herzog to put Cymru 2–1 up at the interval.
Hannah Cain celebrates scoring her sides second goal of the game
Cymru started the second half just as brightly and made the perfect restart. Substitute Lily Woodham connected sweetly with Cain’s cross from the right, firing a brilliant first-time strike into the far corner—her first involvement since entering the match.
Wilkinson used the second half to introduce several substitutes, including a senior debut for Lauren Hughes, who replaced Carrie Jones in the 51st minute. Despite numerous opportunities, it was Switzerland who pulled a goal back on 70 minutes after Cymru were caught playing out from the back. Iman Beney applied the punishment, showing excellent footwork to evade defenders before guiding a low strike into the bottom corner beyond Middleton-Patel.
The Swiss came agonisingly close to an equaliser late on. A looping header across goal found Beney, but she couldn’t direct her close-range effort on target. At the other end, Cymru nearly added a fourth when substitute Griffiths drove forward and curled a strike narrowly over the bar.
In the end, Cymru held firm to secure an impressive victory in Spain, an encouraging way to round off the year for Wilkinson’s side.
Lily Woodham celebrates after Cymru secure victory in their final game of 2025