AL RAYYAN, Qatar: Wales’ all-time top scorer and talisman Gareth Bale scored a late penalty as they rallied in the second half to secure a 1-1 draw with the United States in an enthralling World Cup Group B clash at a raucous Ahmad bin Ali Stadium on Monday (Nov 21).
It was the proverbial game of two halves as the US went into the break with a deserved 1-0 advantage handed to them following a superb finish by Timothy Weah, the son of former World Player of the Year and current Liberia president George.
But a switch in tactics by Wales at the break to introduce target man Kieffer Moore changed the game and brought them back into the contest, resulting in Bale scoring the 82nd minute penalty he had earned after being fouled.
“To go a goal behind against a good team like the US, we showed character, credit to the lads for coming back and getting a point,” said Wales coach Rob Page.
“When we got the penalty we knew who was taking it, one million percent. He’s never let us down has he? It’s all about Bale and rightly so.”
Wales picked up their first point at the World Cup since their last appearance in 1958.
“It was 64 years but worth the wait,” Page said. “To see the Red Wall (Wales fans) celebrating was incredible.”
The match was played in a fantastic atmosphere. Forget the valleys, the Welsh fans were drowning out Al Rayyan, but they met their match in the typically vocal US supporters, whose drum barely stopped beating.
NO ESCAPE
Wales were fortunate not to be behind early on when Weah’s cross deflected off a helpless Joe Rodon and hit Wayne Hennessey with the Wales goalkeeper knowing little about it. Seconds later Antonee Robinson headed wide with a good near-post opportunity.
The pattern of the first half was US possession and Wales trapped in their own half, unable to find an escape route without a recognised number nine to hold up the ball.
Instead Bale and Dan James alternated down the middle with little joy and whenever Wales cleared the ball it came straight back. The pressure finally took its toll after 36 minutes.
Christian Pulisic picked up the ball just inside the Welsh half and surged forward, spotting the clever run of Weah and providing a superbly weighted pass that was expertly finished by the winger as he slipped his shot past Hennessey.
Page made the key change at halftime when he replaced the ineffective James with the tall and muscular Moore, who was exactly what they had been missing in the opening period.
“It was nothing against Dan James, but the game suited Kieffer to get us up the pitch,” Page said. “We played over the top into Kieffer, it was a tactical decision.”
Wales were able to apply pressure at the other end and went close twice in quick succession. First Ben Davies forced a superb stop from goalkeeper Matt Turner before Moore headed the resultant corner just over with a chance he should have buried.
Wales’ pressure paid dividends as they won a penalty when Tim Ream, already on a yellow card for a cynical challenge earlier in the half, went through the back of Bale, who made no mistake from the spot as he thrashed the ball wide of Turner.
“Wales were very direct in the second half,” US coach Gregg Berhalter said. “They have a big team and they made it very difficult. They stepped up the pressure.
“But I thought the guys handled it well. We kept it up to the end, it was a hard-fought game and we left everything out there.”
Wales head into Friday’s game against Iran buoyed by their improved display in the second 45 minutes, while the US will rue two points dropped from a winning position as they face a crunch clash with impressive England, who earlier beat Iran 6-2.
“Before we play Iran the medical team will have work to do,” Page added. “We have players not playing week-in, week-out, they are cramping up.”
For all the latest Sports News Click Here
