Wales vs Austria LIVE: World Cup play-off result and reaction as Bale double has Wales one game from World Cup

Follow reaction from the Cardiff City Stadium as Wales move one win away from a first World Cup since 1958

Wales face Austria just two wins away from their first World Cup since 1958 (AP)

Follow all the reaction as Gareth Bale’s brilliant double sees Wales beat Austria 2-1 in the World Cup play-off semi-finals to move just one victory away from Qatar 2022.

Wales will now face either Scotland or Ukraine in the play-off final for a place in Qatar, however, that match has been postponed due to Russia’s continued invasion of the latter. If Rob Page’s men win that, they will reach the World Cup for just the second time in their history and for the first occasion since 1958.

Wales are now unbeaten in eight matches and although there was pre-match doubt over the fitness of Bale - who has played just 77 minutes of competitive football since November - he stepped up to deliver for his country the way he has done so many times before.

He curled in an exquisite free-kick in the first half and made it 2-0 with a snap finish into the corner after the break. Marcel Sabitzer pulled one back for Austria when his shot cruelly deflected in off Ben Davies but Wales held on to move just 90 minutes away from fulfilling their dream.

Follow all the reaction and analysis as Wales beat Austria:

Wales vs Austria

• FULL-TIME! Wales beat Austria 2-1 to move 90 minutes away from a first World Cup since 1958
• GOAL! 64’ - Sabitzer’s shot deflects in off Ben Davies to pull one back for Austria (2-1)
• GOAL! 51’ - Bale at the double with a classy finish (2-0)
• GOAL! 25’ - Brilliant Bale free-kick puts Wales ahead (1-0)
• CROSSBAR! 6’ - Baumgartner strikes the bar for Austria (0-0)

[24 March 2022 21:31 · Michael Jones]

Wales 2 - 1 Austria

87 mins: The singing is back from the Wales fans. They believe their team can hold out here and they’re trying to lift the team. Austria’s captain David Alaba swings a cross in from the left wing but sends it straight into the hands of Wayne Hennessey.

[24 March 2022 21:28 · Michael Jones]

Wales 2 - 1 Austria

84 mins: Dan James, Gareth Bale and Harry Wilson are all feeling the pain now. Wilson has gone down off the ball and there’s a bit of time going out of the game.

Brennan Johnson is getting stripped and will be coming on shortly.

[24 March 2022 21:25 · Michael Jones]

Wales 2 - 1 Austria

81 mins: Inside the last 10 minutes now. Joe Rodon has been brilliant over the last five minutes or so, Austria have been swinging in crosses from all angles, Arnautovic has been a nuisance and Rodon has dealt with everything for Wales in the heart of their defence.

[24 March 2022 21:23 · Michael Jones]

Wales 2 - 1 Austria

78 mins: Austria attack down the left and whip the ball into the box. Wales scramble a bit but manage to boot it away. They’re under the pump a bit here and need to get some time on the ball.

[24 March 2022 21:19 · Michael Jones]

Wales 2 - 1 Austria

75 mins: No penalty, nothing at all from the VAR. I think Austria have got away with one there. 15 minutes to play in Cardiff, 15 minutes for Wales to hold on to their slender lead.

[24 March 2022 21:18 · Michael Jones]

Wales 2 - 1 Austria

73 mins: Bale is brought down in another dangerous area for Wales. It’s a little closer to goal than Bale’s earlier attempt but he’s going to go for it again.

He rattles his effort into the wall and there’s a loud appeal for handball by the Welsh players. VAR is looking at it, it looks as though Sabitzer moved his arm towards the ball to block it.

[24 March 2022 21:16 · Michael Jones]

Wales 2 - 1 Austria

70 mins: Austria are pushing hard for the equaliser. They win a corner that Alaba pulls back to Sabitzer. When the ball comes into the box, Rodon dives into it and heads it away. On the counter-attack James is played in behind by Wilson and drives up to the penalty area. He attempts to cut in front of a back-tracking Seiwald but the defender gets a touch to the ball and knocks it back to Lindner and safety.

[24 March 2022 21:13 · Michael Jones]

Wales 2 - 1 Austria

67 mins: The tension inside the City Stadium has risen after Sabitzer’s shot hit the back of the net. There’s not much singing going on now as the Welsh fans are beginning to feel the nerves.

Chance! Dan James makes a run into the box through the middle and receives the ball. He’s under pressure from a defender and has to take an early shot allowing Lindner enough time to parry it wide.

[24 March 2022 21:09 · Michael Jones]

GOAL! Wales 2 - 1 Austria (Sabitzer, 64’)⚽️

64 mins: Austria have one back! Arnautovic brings the ball to the right side of the box back can’t find a way into the area. He sends it wide to Lainer who lays the ball off to Sabitzer. He darts inside and hits one at goal. Hennessey dives low to his left to cover the angle of the shot but Davies sticks out a leg to block it. He deflects the ball into the ground and it bounces over thr goalkeeper and finishes in the back of the net!

[24 March 2022 21:08 · Michael Jones]

Wales 2 - 0 Austria

(Getty Images)

(AFP via Getty Images)