While France maintained their 100 per cent record, Wales lost 2-1 in the Women’s World Cup qualifiers, while Northern Ireland hopefuls also suffered a setback against Austria.

With Wendy Renard and Marie-Antoinette Cottoto scoring, world number three France – 28 places ahead of Wales – have seven wins from several games.

With 19 minutes to go, Sophie Ingle halved the deficit with a strike, and Wales were denied a draw when Gemma Evans’ header went offside.

Helen sent Ward to stoppage time, becoming her 100th cap and becoming the fourth Welsh woman to make the leap after Ingle, Jess Fishlock and Lauren Dykes.

Slovenia, who beat Kazakhstan 2-0, are one point ahead of Wales in the race for second place and playoffs.

But Slovenia played one more game than Gemma Granger’s team and visited France on Tuesday.

Wales are on the same night away from Kazakhstan, who have yet to collect a point from six games.

When the two teams met in Brittany in November, France won 2-0 and dominated the Parsi y Scarlett with Paris Saint-Germain winger Cadidio Diani.

Diane had two chances to open the scoring in seconds after 16 minutes. Laura O’Sullivan thwarts her first attempt before France can hold the ball.

Despite being often beaten in France’s one-touch football, Wales had some sparkling moments in the competitive first half.

Following a scramble in the penalty box, Ingle blocked an attempt, and Fishlock failed to capitalize on Pauline Pierro-Magn’s bad punch in the French goal.

Manchester United’s Carrie Jones replaces suspended Kylie Green, forced to save Pirod-Magnin near the post.

France broke the deadlock 31 minutes later, and within seconds Ozullivan was well on his way to defending Renard’s attempt.

Sandy Toleti spun into another corner and Renard scored again with a carbon copy header.

France doubled their lead and the ball rolled into the empty net when Kato blocked O’Sullivan’s clearance attempt 57 minutes later.

Ingle finished in the stands with his fifth Welsh goal, firing through the French defenders.

Diani missed a late attempt and France need one more victory to qualify for next year’s finals in Australia and New Zealand.

Women of Northern Ireland Their 3-1 defeat against them dealt a heavy blow to their World Cup qualifying hopes Austria In Newstad, Vienna.

With three goals drowning the visitors early in the second half, they now face a formidable prospect of meeting Group D leaders England at Windsor Park next week.

Rachel Furnace took advantage of an early error by Austrian keeper Manuela Zinsberger, but the hosts quickly began to take control.

Within three minutes of the start of the second half, Kareena Wenninger started scoring from a Barbara Dunst corner, while Marissa Callahan scored the equalizer after another error by Zinsberger.

Northern Ireland’s chances came in the 55th minute when Nicole Billa and Dunst netted two goals within minutes.

Within five minutes of work Andrew scored a consolation goal, but the defeat put Northern Ireland three points behind second-placed Austria in the playoffs.

Granger: We showed our resilience

Wales manager Gemma Grainger felt that his team’s defeat was bitter after barely losing to one of FIFA’s top teams who had won all their games before their match.

She said: “It may sound like the first game to us, but it’s actually a little worse. Going 2-0 against the best third team in the world and pushing them all the way shows how incredibly defensive this group is. Is.

“We faced one of the best teams in the world. I’m disappointed, but I’m proud, that’s the current feeling.

“I could finally see them replacing and wasting time. I look at them and I think it’s a real sign of the team we are on.

“We want these teams to play in tournaments and I think it was a tournament game. ⁇