What a cliffhanger as Wales somehow hang on for all the points.
Wales pretty much dominated the first half of this game. Creating chances with little reply from their hosts. Temirlan Anarbekov In the Kazakhstan goal was kept busy with three opportunities spurned by the Wales attack, one by debutant Dylan Lawlor which he really should have taken. Another great chance falling to Brennan Johnson. That changes on twenty four minutes when a Harry Wilson corner was superbly met by Liam Cullen, his header was saved but the rebound to Kieffer Moore was always going in the back of the net from a few yards out.
A proper poachers goal.
Over 1,000 Wales followers made the longest trip of this qualification tournament and were in great voice throughout the game (below)
That brought Kazakhstan alive, and in two occasions thereafter they had blocked shots to deal with.The positives were a Harry Wilson and Sorba Thomas, both key players in Wales attacks. Sorba just gets better and better in a Wales shirt. Cullen was having a far more impactive game than he does for his club side, Swansea City. He was able to disrupt play and was a threat in the penalty area.
With Ben Cabango dropped to the bench and Dylan Lawlor all eyes were on him in this game, and to be honest he looked comfortable and was adapting well to his first game in a red shirt. On their Ty eight minutes Kazakhstan had some reward for their efforts. A wonderful shot from Galymzhan Kenzhebek just curled around the post, luckily for Wales the right side of the post. But that was so close. Wales needed to be very alert on the run up to half time.
On forty ine minutes Harry Wilson was fouled in a very dangerous position for Wales. This after good work from Cullen and Thomas. Wilson blasted his set piece into the wall. The real danger for Kazakhstan was the Wales attack which when balls were put in from either side. However, the hosts were always dangerous when on the counter attack. The half time whistle was required. When it did come the main issue for Bellamy to cover was retention of the ball and awareness when the counter attack is on.
⚽️ Half time stats
⚽️ Table as it stood at half time
There were no changes for Wales at half time.
The first knockings of the second half saw an attacking flow to the game for Kazakhstan. Mostly down to loose passes, one from Ben Davies which led to Kenzhebek hitting the bar. Karl Darlow most certainly getting a touch to prevent the ball going in. The ropey passing continued. Wales were up against it. From some excellent intervention by Thomas, Moore missed a very decent opportunity. The away side needed to settle down, retain the ball and focus. They were finding this aspect of the game very hard to do. What was needed was a spark and that could come from the bench from Dan James.
Then a mazy run by Kenzhebek who saw his shot go just past the post.
The crossing from Wales was poor, However, we now saw Brennan Johnson off for Dan James and Kieffer Moore off for Swansea boy Mark Harris.nsuroingkt Kazakhstan took off their mist dangerous player, Kenzhebek at the same time. On seventy one minutes we saw Wales wide open on their left with a flashing cross into their area which eventually went out for a corner. Again the Wales defence very fragile.
How the game ended up 1-0 is a mystery, the problem was the difference in standards between the first half and the second. Two strikes against Darlow’s bar wasn’t even half of the story. That was a real worry, sides of a better standard than Kazakhstan would have easily won this game. The next international is a friendly at the Swansea.com against Canada on Tuesday night (7:45pm) Get down and support your international team.
⚽️ Full time stats
⚽️ Kazakhstan: Anarbekov, Kassym, Malyy, Alip; Kairov, Orazov, Kassabulat, Vorogovskiy; Satpayev, Kenzhebek *Star Man, Samorodov.
Subs: Shaizada, Seisen, Zhaksybayev, Kairov, Zhagorov, Astanov, Muzhikov, Chesnokov, Karaman, Khalmatov, Zhumat, Syiridov, Omirtayev.
⚽️ Wales - Darlow 6 N. Williams 6 Lawlor 7 Mepham 5 B. Davies 5 Thomas 7 Sheehan 6 Wilson 7 Cullen 7 Johnson 6 Moore 7
Subs: King, A. Davies, Cabango 5 Norrington-Davies, Kpakio, Crew, J James 5 J. Colwill, Brooks 6 Koumas, Harris 5 D. James 6