Media caption,

Rhian Wilkinson hailed a "much improved" performance from Wales

Wales' winless run stretched to 12 matches as they missed a string of chances in a 1-1 friendly draw with South Korea in Malaga.

Wales looked on course for a long-awaited victory after Sophie Ingle headed them into an early lead.

But Welsh wastefulness in front of goal allowed South Korea to stay in the contest and, with Rhian Wilkinson's side losing their way as the game wore on, substitute Kim Min-ji headed home the equaliser midway through the second period.

While Wales may take satisfaction from aspects of their performance – and the fact that they have halted a run of seven successive defeats – there will be frustration over their failure to win.

Wilkinson's team are left still waiting for a first triumph since their memorable Euro 2025 play-off win over the Republic of Ireland almost 12 months ago.

The run without a victory is now Wales' longest since their worst ever sequence, when they went 15 games without winning between 1997 and 2001.

Nevertheless, a draw against a South Korea side ranked 21st in the world by Fifa – 11 places higher than Wales – is a creditable result for Wales as they build towards the start of their 2027 World Cup qualifying campaign next March.

Wales did not look like a team in poor form as they caused problems for South Korea from the outset, with goalkeeper Kim Min-jeong making a sharp save to repel Ingle's drive.

From the Lily Woodham corner that followed, Ingle headed home from point-blank range with Kim left stranded after just six minutes.

Wilkinson had made seven changes to the team which began last month's dispiriting defeat by Poland, the Wales head coach fielding something closer to her strongest line-up in southern Spain.

Her reward - for an hour - was a much more convincing performance, with Wales' only frustration in that period being the failure to build on Ingle's seventh international goal.

Ingle saw a second header saved, Hannah Cain volleyed wide and Mared Griffiths and Carrie Jones both had decent efforts from just outside the area.

South Korea only really threatened with one sharp counter before the break, but Gemma Evans saved her team with a fine recovery challenge on former Chelsea star Ji So-yun.

Wales were on the front foot again early in the second period, with substitute Elise Hughes driving a shot against the post and Jones pulling another big chance across the face.

Wilkinson must have feared her team would be made to pay for their profligacy, particularly as they lost momentum in an increasingly scrappy contest.

South Korea's moment duly arrived when a short corner routine ended with Jang Sel-gi crossing for substitute Kim to head beyond a helpless Olivia Clark.

Sophie Ingle celebrates with Rhiannon Roberts Image source, FAW
Image caption,

Sophie Ingle's goal was her seventh in 145 Wales appearances

Analysis: Hughes waits in wings as opportunity goes begging for Wales

Wilkinson has repeatedly suggested that results will only really begin to matter when Wales return to competitive action in qualifying for the 2027 World Cup next spring.

And nobody will be complaining about the struggles of 2025, of course, should Wales end up securing a place in Brazil in 19 months' time.

But the form guide does not make pretty reading from a Welsh perspective, even if they have faced a succession of demanding fixtures over the past year.

A win against higher-ranked opponents in the first camp since Jess Fishlock's international retirement would have been a timely boost for a Wales team in transition.

Instead Wales were forced to make do with avoiding defeat for the first time since the 1-1 draw in Sweden in April.

They have one more chance to claim victory before competitive football returns in March, when they play Switzerland in Jerez on Tuesday.

The hope is that Laura Hughes, the once-capped Australia midfielder, will be allowed to feature in that game after she missed out against South Korea thanks to a delay in processing her switch of allegiance to Wales.

The addition of a player of Hughes' pedigree will be a plus for Wilkinson as she looks for progress in 2026.