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

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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Real Madrid’s Bale, Wales’s all-time top scorer, lasted only the first half of his 100th appearance before being withdrawn with a calf injury.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

• GOAL! Ramsey follows up a rebound from Davies’ shot to strike inside two minutes
• GOAL! Williams doubles Wales’ lead to boost hopes of securing second in group
• GOAL! Ramsey grabs a brace from the spot, 3-0!
• GOAL! Davies makes it 4-0 with his first international goal
• GOAL! Kontsevoy with a screamer to hand Belarus a consolation
• GOAL! Roberts makes it 5-1 after a terrific Wilson delivery

[12 November 2021 16:11 · Karl Matchett]

Wales vs Belarus live updates

Gareth Bale will be hoping to prove his fitness and earn his 100th cap for Wales when they face Belarus tonight.

The Dragons are looking to secure a top-two finish in Group E of their World Cup qualifying campaign and currently sit in third, behind Czech Republic, but with this fixture in hand.

With Belgium already clear at the top, the race for a play-off spot between the other two nations is somewhat lessened by the fact whichever finishes third should still get a berth in the play-offs through their Nations League exertions.

The reverse fixture between Belarus and Wales ended 3-2 after a Bale hat-trick, the last of which came in stoppage time.