NATASHA Harding marked her 100th appearance for Wales with a goal in a one-sided World Cup qualifying win in Kazakhstan.
Gemma Grainger's side made no mistake in Nur-Sultan with the 3-0 victory ensuring they remain in control of their qualification destiny.
Wales dominated from the off and the nerves were settled when Kayleigh Green struck approaching the half hour.
Bargoed's Harding scored from a cross for a 2-0 lead at the break - a 26th goal in international football for the 33-year-old - and fellow centurion Jess Fishlock powered in a third in the second half.
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β Wales π΄σ §σ ’σ ·σ ¬σ ³σ Ώ (@Cymru) April 12, 2022
Cap 100. GΓ΄l 26. @tashharding09 π
πΊ Yn Fyw / Watch Live https://t.co/E9oK9ORDCh#BeFootball | #TogetherStronger
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Wales should have boosted their goal difference with further efforts β they had 80 per cent of possession and fired in 21 shots β but it was still job done to set up September clashes with Greece and Slovenia.
Win both of those games and they will finish second behind France in Group I to earn a play-off for a place in a first major tournament.
Wales had been edged out 2-1 by the French in Llanelli and looked to build on that spirited display on a plastic Astana Arena pitch against hosts that sat deep from the off.
The opener came when Green, back after suspension, received the ball on the edge of the box, turned and fired a shot low into the bottom left corner.
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β Wales π΄σ §σ ’σ ·σ ¬σ ³σ Ώ (@Cymru) April 12, 2022
Cool as π§ @kayleighgreen22
πΊ Yn Fyw / Watch Live https://t.co/E9oK9ORDCh#BeFootball | #TogetherStrongerpic.twitter.com/o9Q5uEiGLQ
Wales wasted a number of openings for a second before Harding's magic moment, the centurion timing her run perfectly to slot from Ceri Holland's inswinging cross from the left.
Fishlock competed the scoring with a cracker, controlling and then smashing in from just inside the box after 65 minutes.
It would have been more had Wales, who won 6-0 when the sides met in Llanelli, been a little more cutthroat but it was still a victory that made it an occasion to savour for Harding.
"It was an emotional one. The girls have been brilliant with me. I could hardly sing the anthem. which is quite rare for me," Harding said to BBC Sport Wales.
"I am so proud to be wearing this shirt. To achieve 100 caps is an incredible moment for me."
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β Wales π΄σ §σ ’σ ·σ ¬σ ³σ Ώ (@Cymru) April 12, 2022
πΈπ· @JessFishlock#BeFootball | #TogetherStronger
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Wales travel to Greece on Friday, September 2 before hosting Slovenia on Tuesday, September 6 at a venue yet to be confirmed.
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