Wales take one-goal advantage to second leg in Llanelli
Ezmiralda Franja turns into own goal to give Wales win
Albania spurn chances and denied by woodwork
Winner of two-legged play-off will face Norway or Romania
HT: Albania 0-1 Wales
Image source, Getty ImagesWill we see Wales' top goalscorer during qualification, Hannah Cain, introduced in the second half as Rhian Wilkinson's side go in search of a greater lead?
The Everton forward has scored six goals in qualification, a total bettered by only two players: Scotland's Caroline Weir and Belgium's Tessa Wullaert.
HT: Albania 0-1 Wales
Image source, BBC SportHappy with that first half, Wales fans?
Send us your thoughts by using the yellow button on the page.
HT: Albania 0-1 Wales
Gwennan Harries
Former Wales striker on Match of the Day Wales
Image source, FAWIt will be really important for Mared Griffiths to have experience playing out wide.
We've seen a couple of crosses where she has made the wrong decision, but she's used to playing in the middle, so that's only going to help her game in the future.
HT: Albania 0-1 Wales
Owain Llyr
BBC Radio Cymru commentator Loro Borici Stadium
Image source, BBC SportI can confirm that they do lovely cakes in Albania.
This one is courtesy of my co-commentator, former Wales captain Kath Morgan.
HT: Albania 0-1 Wales
Kath Morgan
Former Wales captain on BBC Radio Cymru
I'm satisfied with the first half.
The three in the back line need to get better when defending one-on-one; they are opening themselves up for Albania, and it has come from our mistakes.
Overall, Wales have played well, but we do look fragile in those situations.
HT: Albania 0-1 Wales
Katie Sherwood
Former Wales midfielder on Match of the Day Wales
It's been much like we expected.
There have been some nervy moments, so we need to tidy up there. I'd like to see us with a bit more urgency in possession.
But we are going into half-time 1-0 up.
HT: Albania 0-1 Wales
A reminder that the winner of this two-legged tie advances to face either Norway - who are coached by former Wales boss Gemma Grainger - or Romania.
The first leg of that tie is about to get under way, with kick-off in Bucharest at 18:00 BST.
HT: Albania 0-1 Wales
Image source, FAWWales have had seven attempts compared to Albania's five, and Rhian Wilkinson's side have had six shots on target, with the hosts managing three, which will be a tad concerning for the visitors, despite their superiority.
Elise Hughes heads wide from Lily Woodham's free kick, and that's the end of the half.
The big plus is that Wales lead, although Albania have caused some problems.
Another massive 45 minutes to come, but it's so far, so good for Rhian Wilkinson's side in Shkoder.
Albania 0-1 Wales
Wales win a free kick as Rowe has her shirt heavily pulled by Metalla.
They go short and duly lose possession far too cheaply.
A waste from Wilkinson's side.
Albania 0-1 Wales
Nia Jones
Former Wales international on Match of the Day Wales
There is plenty of promise from Wales, they've had the majority of the ball.
They could play a bit quicker but they could also be a lot more direct.
Albania 0-1 Wales
Wales stay patient as they look to see out the final stages of the first half with minimal fuss.
Albania 0-1 Wales
We'll have four minutes of added time.
Albania 0-1 Wales
Sara Maliqi is replaced by Xhesika Ndoj.
Albania 0-1 Wales
Wales - with their numerical advantage - look to take the sting out of the final stages of this half.
Lily Woodham gets up the left wing and crosses towards Hughes, but the offside flag is raised.
Albania 0-1 Wales
Nia Jones
Former Wales international on Match of the Day Wales
It's all a little bit frantic at the minute.
Wales have got to be better with the individual duels, the Albanians are backing themselves and more often than not are getting the better of our defenders.
Albania 0-1 Wales
A brief break in play as Sara Maliqi receives treatment.
She looks very upset and she limps her way off the pitch.
A very sad sight to see.
Albania 0-1 Wales
The offside flag brings an end to a promising Wales attack with Hughes and Griffiths threatening on the right.
Into the final five minutes of the opening half.
Crucially, Wales lead, but Albania have certainly asked questions of Wilkinson's side.
Albania 0-1 Wales
A cheap foul by Gemma Evans on Ezmiralda Franja gives Albania a chance to deliver the ball into the Wales box.
Doci takes the free kick, but Rowe heads clear at the front post.
It's lumped back into the Wales box, but Rowe produces another timely challenge.
Albania 0-1 Wales
Griffiths has been a real live-wire on the right flank, but another attack breaks down and Albania break.
Fortesa Berisha opts to shoot from a narrow angle on the left, but Middleton-Patel palms the ball away to safety.
Wales are aiming to qualify for a second successive major championship having featured at Euro 2025
Wales moved a step closer to a first Women's World Cup as they held on for a fortuitous win in their play-off semi-final first leg in Albania.
A first-half own goal from Ezmiralda Franja proved decisive to make Rhian Wilkinson's side warm favourites to progress in Tuesday's second leg in Llanelli.
Wales will expect to complete the job on their own turf, although an improved performance may be required after an unconvincing display in Shkoder.
Albania are ranked 68th in the world, 37 places below them, yet the hosts could consider themselves unlucky to lose on a night when they created the better chances.
Despite their squad being depleted by a rash of injuries, Wales would have hoped for a better display - even if they finished up delighted with the result.
Victory extended their unbeaten run to nine matches, equalling the nation's longest ever sequence without losing after they managed the same feat between November 2013 and August 2014.
If Wales avoid defeat once more on in midweek, they will progress to a two-legged play-off final against either Norway or Romania in December - and may then have to come through inter-confederation play-offs to secure a place at next summer's World Cup in Brazil.
Wales were without nine regular squad members in this international window as a result of injuries.
Liverpool midfielder Ceri Holland was perhaps the biggest loss, but Wilkinson was without a string of players who would have played a part against Albania.
With Holland, Ffion Morgan and Ella Powell all missing, she opted to play attacking midfielder Mared Griffiths at right wing-back, while Cain - the squad's leading goalscorer - was somewhat surprisingly left on the bench.
Wales had plenty of possession but lacked an attacking threat and creaked defensively.
Their goal came from a Lily Woodham corner, with Rachel Rowe among a crowd of players competing for a touch in the area.
The ball ricocheted into the net and, after a video assistant referee (VAR) check found no issues, the unfortunate Franja was credited with the final touch.
Highlights: Wales earn play-off first leg win in Albania
Yet Albania had chances to get back into the game, with Franja and the lively Fortesa Berisha denied by Safia Middleton-Patel before the break.
There was a mighty scare for Wales early in the second period when Berisha ran beyond Gemma Evans and drew another sharp stop from Middleton-Patel before rattling the rebound against the far post.
Megi Doci then found the target only to be denied by an offside flag as the visitors wobbled.
Cain had a chance to release the pressure when she latched on to fellow substitute Scarlett Hill's pass but, with the angle tight, the Everton forward dragged her shot across the face.
Wales found some composure in the final quarter of the contest, although they were left breathing a sigh of relief again when Berisha slashed over the bar late on.
Hannah Cain had one of a handful of Wales chances but dragged her shot wide
Wales topped their group - where they managed home and away victories against Albania - in this World Cup qualifying campaign.
But with no automatic route to the tournament available for countries in League B, Wilkinson's players must come through a challenging play-off process if they are to reach a second successive major championship.
Should they get over the line against Albania, a two-legged final - which is likely to be against Norway - awaits in December.
Wales would start as underdogs against the Norwegians and, even if they upset Gemma Grainger's side, a World Cup spot would not be guaranteed.
There will be eight European play-off winners, with seven progressing to the tournament and one - the lowest-ranked nation from the group stage of qualifying - going into inter-confederation play-offs next February.
That team could well be Wales, meaning it will be a while yet before they can begin planning for a World Cup debut.
In truth, they will need to be much better than this if they are to find a way to Brazil.
After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.
Manager: Armir Grimaj
Formation: 3 - 4 - 1 - 2
Manager: Rhian Wilkinson
Formation: 4 - 4 - 2
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