Wales boost World Cup hopes with hard-fought triumph in Moldova

&Tab;&Tab;<div class&equals;"wpcnt">&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;<div class&equals;"wpa">&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;<span class&equals;"wpa-about">Advertisements<&sol;span>&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;<div class&equals;"u top&lowbar;amp">&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;<amp-ad width&equals;"300" height&equals;"265"&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab; type&equals;"pubmine"&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab; data-siteid&equals;"111265417"&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab; data-section&equals;"1">&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;<&sol;amp-ad>&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;<&sol;div>&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;<&sol;div>&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;<&sol;div><p>Wales struck twice in the final 10 minutes to record a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Moldova and boost their World Cup qualification hopes&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Chris Coleman&&num;8217&semi;s side dominated for long periods in Chisinau but were missing the final touch to punish Group D&&num;8217&semi;s whipping boys&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>But Wales &&num;8211&semi; again inspired by Liverpool teenager Ben Woodburn &&num;8211&semi; finally found the way to goal with Hal Robson-Kanu and Aaron Ramsey on target&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Woodburn&&num;8217&semi;s role in the deadlock-breaker was crucial as he surged down the left and his cross was met by the diving head of Robson-Kanu&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Wayne Hennessey produced a brilliant stop to deny Andrei Cojocari in stoppage time&comma; but the result was put beyond doubt seconds later when Ramsey&&num;8217&semi;s deflected effort spun in&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>The win lifted Wales into second place in Group D after the Republic of Ireland lost 1-0 at home to Serbia&comma; who are now firm favourites to top the pool<br &sol;>&NewLine;But Wales will now be expected to at least take the runners-up spot&comma; with the probable reward being a play-off place&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Wales &&num;8211&semi; wearing a new all-yellow change strip to avoid a kit clash &&num;8211&semi; famously lost in Chisinau in 1994 when Moldova celebrated their first game competitive fixture as an independent nation following the break up of the old Soviet Union&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>But the Dragons arrived in high spirits following the dramatic weekend win over Austria which had rekindled hopes of World Cup qualification&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Robson-Kanu had the first chance of a cagey opening when he headed Ramsey&&num;8217&semi;s corner wide and there was concern for Wales when Gareth Bale was left in a crumpled heap by Alexandru Epureanu&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>The Moldova captain was duly booked as Bale rose gingerly to his feet&comma; but the challenge seemed to stir the hosts as Alexandru Dedov and Artur Ionita tried their luck from distance&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>But Wales were almost ahead after 19 minutes when a quick break-out saw Tom Lawrence set up Bale from 20 yards and goalkeeper Ilie Cebanu failed to hold the shot&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Ramsey was first on the scene and denied by Cebanu redeeming himself&comma; but even then Robson-Kanu would have forced the ball home but for Epureanu making a brilliant goal-line block&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Wales were dominating possession without asking too many questions&comma; although when the ball sat up nicely for Ben Davies the left-back wasted no time in firing goalwards&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>It was a decent effort&comma; but again Cebanu was untroubled&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Wales showed more urgency at the start of the second period and Cebanu&&num;8217&semi;s handling was again called into question when he spilled Bale&&num;8217&semi;s attempt from the edge of the box&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Their first-half superiority was threatening to turn in to a siege as Moldova struggled to find way out of defence and Lawrence and Ramsey both had half-chances but failed to test Cebanu&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Hennessey had to make his first save of the night&comma; albeit routine&comma; when Moldova released the pressure valve and Dedov took aim from 20 yards&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Wales created one of their clearest sights of goal moments later&comma; though&period; <&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Robson-Kanu produced a lovely bit of skill to lose his marker but was unable to find the finish to match&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Wales turned to Woodburn on the hour and the Liverpool teenager was instantly into the action with a clipped cross which Robson-Kanu was just unable to reach&period; A horrible mistake in the Wales defence&comma; James Chester hesitating and Ashley Williams missing his kick&comma; then almost gifted Radu Ginsari the opener&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>But Ginsari dwelled on the ball and Chester got back to atone for his error&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Wales were starting to take risks at the back in order to force a winner and Sam Vokes was sent on to replace Andy King for the final quarter&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Bale almost cashed in when the ball broke loose in the six-yard box but Artiom Rozgoniuc showed superb awareness to deny Wales&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Ramsey fired over and it looked as if was going to be one of those oh-so-nearly nights for Wales&period; But late drama saw them home&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;<div style&equals;"padding-bottom&colon;15px&semi;" class&equals;"wordads-tag" data-slot-type&equals;"belowpost">&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;<div id&equals;"atatags-dynamic-belowpost-68ecc9e8e3bbe">&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;<script type&equals;"text&sol;javascript">&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;window&period;getAdSnippetCallback &equals; function &lpar;&rpar; &lbrace;&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;if &lpar; false &equals;&equals;&equals; &lpar; window&period;isWatlV1 &quest;&quest; false &rpar; &rpar; &lbrace;&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&sol;&sol; Use Aditude scripts&period;&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;window&period;tudeMappings &equals; window&period;tudeMappings &vert;&vert; &lbrack;&rsqb;&semi;&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;window&period;tudeMappings&period;push&lpar; &lbrace;&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;divId&colon; 'atatags-dynamic-belowpost-68ecc9e8e3bbe'&comma;&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;format&colon; 'belowpost'&comma;&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&rcub; &rpar;&semi;&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&rcub;&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&rcub;&NewLine;&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;if &lpar; document&period;readyState &equals;&equals;&equals; 'loading' &rpar; &lbrace;&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;document&period;addEventListener&lpar; 'DOMContentLoaded'&comma; window&period;getAdSnippetCallback &rpar;&semi;&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&rcub; else &lbrace;&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;window&period;getAdSnippetCallback&lpar;&rpar;&semi;&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&rcub;&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;<&sol;script>&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;<&sol;div>&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;<&sol;div>


Discover more from London Glossy Post

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

- Advertisement -
Exit mobile version