Wales vs Belarus LIVE: World Cup qualifier result, final score and reaction tonight
Wales 5-1 Belarus: Aaron Ramsey’s double inspired a big win on Gareth Bale’s 100th cap
Wales moved clear in second place in World Cup qualifying Group E with a 5-1 home rout of Belarus on Saturday, as Gareth Bale earned his 100th cap for his country.
Aaron Ramsey scored twice for the hosts in Cardiff with Neco Williams, Ben Davies and Connor Roberts also on target as the Welsh boosted their hopes of finishing runners-up behind group winners Belgium who beat Estonia.
Wales are already guaranteed a place in the March playoffs to earn a place in next year’s Qatar finals having won their Nations League section. But finishing second in Group E could give them a better chance of a home draw.
Real Madrid’s Bale, Wales’s all-time top scorer, lasted only the first half of his 100th appearance before being withdrawn with a calf injury.
But by that stage Wales were already in command.
It took them only two minutes to go in front, as Ben Davies’s crisp volley was parried out by Belarus keeper Syarhey Chernik and Ramsey converted the rebound.
Williams doubled their lead in the 20th minute when he was played in by Bale and embarrassed Chernik with a near-post shot.
Ramsey coolly converted a penalty awarded for handball in the 50th minute to become only the sixth player to score at least 20 goals for Wales, and Davies then bundled in his first, on his 68th appearance for his country.
Artem Kontsevoi scored a late consolation for Belarus with a dipping shot, but Roberts completed the scoring as he touched in a Harry Wilson corner in the last minute.
Wales host Belgium in their final group game on Tuesday trailing the world number one nation by five points but with a three-point lead over third-placed Czech Republic.
A draw will be enough to seal the runners-up spot. The Czechs finish off against Estonia.
Wales 1 - 0 Belarus
11 mins: Belarus steal the ball in the middle of the pitch and work it nicely over to Pechenin over on the left flank. He carries the ball into the box and looks to square it for Vitali Lisakovich but his pass is intercepted and Wales clear the danger through Joe Rodon.
Wales 1 - 0 Belarus
11 mins: Belarus steal the ball in the middle of the pitch and work it nicely over to Pechenin over on the left flank. He carries the ball into the box and looks to square it for Vitali Lisakovich but his pass is intercepted and Wales clear the danger through Joe Rodon.
Wales 1 - 0 Belarus
8 mins: Sedko leaves a bit too much on Ampadu after his hits the Weslh defender with a late clip on the ankle. Amapdu goes down and is awarded a free kick. After a breather he’s back on his feet, limping away with a grimace on his face.
Wales 1 - 0 Belarus
5 mins: Wales need to keep their heads now. There’s a long way to go in this game and Belarus will continue to search for an equaliser. The visitors work the ball down the right wing with Vladislav Klimovich slotting it forward for Nikolai Zolotov on the overlap. Davies beats him to the ball and Harry Wilson is back to cover the defender and Wales work the ball away from their own penalty area.
GOAL! Wales 1 - 0 Belarus (Ramsey, 2’)⚽️
2 mins: The perfect start! Wales score the opener inside of two minutes at the Cardiff City Stadium. They win an early corner that isn’t headed clear and Joe Allen keeps the ball alive with a cross back into the box from the left. Kirill Pechenin’s headed clearance only comes out as far as Ben Davies who hits a left-footed volley at goal and forces Sergei Chetnik into a low save to his left. The goalkeeper spills the ball and Aaron Ramsey is first to react and taps the loose ball into the open net!
Wales 0 - 0 Belarus
Kick off: The Welsh players gather in a huddle then take the knee before Belarus get the game rolling. A long ball is sent up the pitch but Ethan Amapdu brings it under control before being fouled by Pavel Sedko.
Wales vs Belarus
The teams make their way out onto the pitch, Gareth Bale leading out Wales for his 100th international cap. The national anthems are played with a large portion of the Red Wall joining in for the Welsh one. Kick off is next...
Wales vs Belarus: The Belarussian danger man
Belarus’ Vitali Lisakovich has been directly involved in four of their six goals in this World Cup qualifying campaign (three goals, one assist) and has had the most shots (nine), created the most chances (eight) and played the most passes into the box (26) of any Belarus player so far. Can Wales keep him quiet tonight?
Wales vs Belarus: Missing Moore
Since his debut in September 2019, striker Kieffer Moore is Wales’ top scorer with seven goals. He has also received nine yellow cards, four more than any other Wales player. Will the Dragons rue his absence this evening?
Wales vs Belarus: Solid form at home for Wales
Wales have only lost one of their last 17 home matches in qualifying for major tournaments, a 1-0 defeat against the Republic of Ireland in October 2017.
They have not conceded more than once in any of those 17 games, shipping just six overall.
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