Ingle Scores Early but Wales’ Winless Run Continues in Draw With South Korea

Spain: The wait for a victory continues for Wales Women, whose winless run now stands at 12 matches after they were held to a 1-1 friendly draw by a higher-ranked South Korea side in Malaga.

Coach Rhian Wilkinson fielded a stronger line-up after a recent defeat to Poland, and the team responded with a convincing hour of play, taking the lead after just six minutes. A sharp save from the South Korea goalkeeper led to a corner, from which captain Sophie Ingle headed home from point-blank range for her seventh international goal.

Despite the positive start, Wales’ inability to convert a slew of subsequent chances ultimately proved costly. Ingle saw a second header saved, Hannah Cain volleyed wide, and both Mared Griffiths and Carrie Jones missed decent opportunities. The worst moment came in the second half when substitute Elise Hughes rattled the post, followed by Jones pulling another big chance across the face of the goal.

Wilkinson’s team paid the price for their wastefulness when, midway through the second period, a short corner routine led to a cross from Jang Sel-gi, which substitute Kim Min-ji headed past a helpless Olivia Clark.

While the draw breaks a run of seven successive defeats, the failure to win extends Wales’ longest winless run since a 15-game sequence stretching between 1997 and 2001.

Wales have one more chance to claim victory before their 2027 World Cup qualifying campaign begins in March: a fixture against Switzerland in Jerez on Tuesday.