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Real Madrid’s Bale, Wales’s all-time top scorer, lasted only the first half of his 100th appearance before being withdrawn with a calf injury.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 vs Belarus: Players show support for Brooks and Barden
The Wales players are warming up tonight wearing t-shirts showing their support for teammates David Brooks and Dan Barden who have both recently been diagnosed with cancer.
Gareth Bale is ‘best British player of his generation’, Joe Ledley claims
Joe Ledley has described Gareth Bale as the best British player of his generation and says he would have had more respect if he had been English.
Real Madrid forward Bale is poised to win his 100th Wales cap against Belarus on Saturday after recovering from a hamstring tear which has ruled him out for two months.
Bale is in the final year of his Real contract with his time at the Spanish giants set to end next summer.
Gareth Bale is ‘best British player of his generation’, Joe Ledley claims
Six of the best – Gareth Bale’s stunning Wales strikes
Gareth Bale is poised to win his 100th Wales cap against Belarus on Saturday.
Bale is Wales’ record goalscorer and has been his country’s talisman for over a decade.
Here, the PA news agency picks out six of Bale’s best goals among his record 36 for Wales:
Six of the best – Gareth Bale’s stunning Wales strikes
Wales vs Belarus: Bale on reaching 100 caps
Gareth Bale spoke to the media yesterday about the feeling of becoming just the second male player to reach 100 international caps for Wales and he said:
I’m very proud and honoured to be a Welshman. To get 100 caps will personally be an incredible achievement and one you never think about when you start out.
“It’s my country, it’s my place of birth, it’s where I’ve grown up. You have that special connection.
“Wales has that extra special thing, we have that connection with the fans. We were all fans growing up. When a fan plays for your own national team you kind of bring that passion with you.
“It is hard to describe the feeling of playing for Wales. It is such a special country. It is such a special bond between the players, the staff, the fans, and even the media are a little bit nicer to us… it is just a special country to be a part of.”
Wales vs Belarus
After winning their opening World Cup 2022 qualifier against Estonia, Belarus have lost their last six matches by an aggregate score of 17-2.
They have lost their last 14 away World Cup qualifiers since winning 5-1 in Kazakhstan in April 2009. Among European nations, only San Marino (25) are on a longer losing run in away World Cup qualifiers than the Belarussians.
Wales vs Belarus
Wales have scored a winning goal in the final 10 minutes of three of their six games against Belarus: Kit Symons in the 84th minute (October 1998, Euro qualifier), Ryan Giggs in the 86th minute (September 1999, Euro qualifier) and Gareth Bale in the 90th minute (September 2021, World Cup qualifier).
Wales vs Belarus: Welsh players need to be cautious
Eight Wales players are one yellow card away from suspension.
Those players are Chris Gunter, James Lawrence, Joe Morrell, and Sorba Thomas, three of which start on the bench this evening, but Aaron Ramsey, Ethan Ampadu, Joe Allen, and Harry Wilson all have to play cautiously when they take to the pitch tonight.
If any of those are booked against Belarus, they will be suspended for Tuesday’s match against Belgium.
Any players who avoid a caution against Belarus but are booked against Belgium will be banned for the play-off semi-final in March.
Some Uefa’s member associations are lobbying for that rule to be changed so a yellow card against Belgium may not lead to a suspension.
Robert Page ‘fully committed’ to leading Wales into World Cup play-offs
Robert Page is fully committed to leading Wales amid uncertainty over who will take charge of their World Cup play-off tie in March.
Former captain Page has guided Wales into the play-offs in the continued absence of manager Ryan Giggs, who has been on leave from his post for 12 months.
Giggs faces trial in January accused of deliberately headbutting his ex-girlfriend and controlling her throughout their relationship. The former Manchester United and Wales star denies all the allegations.
Robert Page ‘fully committed’ to leading Wales into World Cup play-offs
Wales vs Belarus: Group E permutations
In theory Wales could qualify automatically for the World Cup as they are five points behind Group E leaders Belgium with two games to go.
However that would require Belgium, the world’s number one ranked side, to lose to Estonia tonight as well as to Wales when the two teams meet next Tuesday.
Therefore, the play-offs are Wales’ likeliest route to a first World Cup since 1958. They can secure a top-two finish with four points from these final two qualifiersr and a second place finish would enhance but not guarantee their chances of a home draw in the play-offs.
The Czech Republic are Wales’ main rivals. Both teams have 11 points but Wales have a game in hand which will be played this evening. As the Czechs have an easier final fixture, they play Estonia on Tuesday, Rob Page’s men could really do with pickign up three points against Belarus.
Wales vs Belarus
Wales have won five of their six matches against Belarus, including a 3-2 victory in September with Gareth Bale scoring a hat-trick in Kazan.
Belarus’ only victory over Wales came back in September 2000 in Minsk in a World Cup qualifier, winning 2-1 with Gary Speed scoring a 90th minute consolation goal for the Welsh.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments