WORLD CUP GAME 2: RUSSIA 2 WALES 1

Wales, shorn of stars and experience, performed brilliantly but agonisingly lost to a late winner in a 2-1 defeat to Euro semi-finalists Russia in Moscow, also managing to miss a penalty. A superb effort, certainly not the humilition some of us feared, but no points

Wales were vastly inexperienced, Paul Parry’s childish uncaring retirement and Jason Koumas’ injury from the weekend further hurting a nation already missing the likes of Gabbidon, Collins, Nyatanga, Bellamy, Eastwood amongst others. Playing 4-5-1 with Sam Vokes as the Lone Raider up front, it was a damage limitation exercise.

Vokes was one of 5 Under 21 players, two more were on the bench making the achievement of the boys to beat Romania 3-0 away and win their Under 21 group last night all the more remarkable.

Russia were at full strength, 9 of their starters played in the summer Euro2008 semi-final, the other two were suspen ded from that match. Up front were the lethal due of Arshavin and Pavylencehnko, the latter just signed by Spurs for £16M.

Wales started well looking solid and Russia didn’t put a shot on goal until 13 minutes but it needed Hennessey to produce a great stop as Arshavin got behind Bale and teed up Pavylenchenko unmarked by the penalty spot.

However by the quarter mark, the course of the game changed with two decisive moments with different outcomes. First Bale skipped into the area and was clipped by a poor challenge by the
Russian skipper for a shock penalty. I screamed YESSSS but it soon turned to SSSHHHIITTT as Bale hit an identical penalty to Koumas in the Azerbaijan match which produced an identical easy save for the Russian keeper. That’s criminal.

As if the miss wasn’t punishing enough, Hennessey chased a ball he didn’t need to and Morgan trying to tidy up caught a Russian for the game’s second penalty in 6 minutes, PAVYLENCHENKO cheekily clipped it a fraction over a sprawled Hennessey and, already, you felt Wales’ were now chasing a lost cause.

The half-hour produced a cheer as I heard the name Joe Ledley mentioned for the first time, a good turn and cross but taken by the Russian keeper as the home nation, backed by a vocal sell crowd at Locomotive Moscow’s club ground, dominated but by playing in second gear and the passed and strolled about.

The Russians were looking guilty of overplay and complacency approaching the interval. And were nearly caught out as Ledley ghosted in at the post meeting a Davies diagonal ball but he hit it wide across the goal before realising a foul had been given for a Vokes push.

Half-time: Russia 1 Wales 0

The second half opened as the first finished - with the Russians looking sloppy and an organised Wales showing more confidence and freedom to the extent that they carried more threat and had more possession although forays into the opposition box never quite produced a goal threat. Encouragingly however , every time Wales put the ball in the box, they had three men there.
On the hour, Ched Evans - more powerful and direct - replaced Sam Vokes after his thankless and draining taks as the lone front man but Russia had an immediate chance to finish it as Gunter slipped allowing the world class Arshavin a free header which, thank you thank you, he put over.

However, on 67 minutes, a truly magical moment. Gareth Bale, so impressive getting forward, produced brilliance to squeeze between two defenders to surge into the box and fire across the face of goal, the Russian keeper couldn’t get there and MR CARDIFF CITY JOE LEDLEY was on hand to place home into the unguarded net. Mayhem in Moscow as the travelling 250 Welsh fans danced and mayhem in my home as I spilled my can!

Predictably, the Russians made changes and set about waking up again to throw everything at Wales but it was Proud Cymru who had the next opportunity as Bale, once again flying forward, who fired over from just outside the box.

With 12 minutes left, a strange moment as Ricketts held up a throw in as Wales were ready to make a change. The officials would not allow it and then booked Ricketts, the 4th Welsh player to get a yellow card, and then Toshack too! The change came - Evans as an extra defender for Edwards in midfield - before a promising moment as Bale won a 20 yard free-kick but the normally superb set piece taker hit it without pace at the keeper.

However disaster struck with 10 remaining as Arshavin teased Gunter, his chipped ball gave Zuryanov who se free header was superbly stopped by Hennessy with with Welsh defenders all over the place, PODGREBNYAK smashed the rebound home low.

The Russians, back in the ascendancy after Wales had produced a magnificent heroic half, almost made it 3 as Hennessy palmed Pavylenchenko’s 20 yard drive around the post but again Wales responded as Ricketts, after promising build up, fired high and wide

Three minutes of added time and Wales applied pressure at the death with Gunter denied a penalty appeal and caught offside as final whistle blew.

Not the result we wanted but an outstanding performance which we should all be proud about. A full strength Russia only just scraping past a Welsh side with well over half our boys missing is a tremendous effort. Unlucky boys but well done.

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