FAVOUR OF Red Dragons need help after THE MONTH
ROB PAGE saw Wales’ Euro qualification hopes slip through his fingers and into the hands of others after more agony against Armenia.
This blow was not as painful as the one inflicted by the Armenians in Cardiff in the summer but the upshot is just as wounding.
Reaching Germany next June is now out of their control and they need a favour from yesterday’s opponents on Tuesday. Wales must beat Turkey – who have already qualified – at home and hope the Armenians, who are now out, can cause a shock in Croatia.
If those hopes crumble, then it will be the minefield of the play-offs for Page and his men, but they have no-one to blame but themselves.
They rode their luck after going 1-0 down early on and never found the authority to take charge of the game despite being given a lifeline equaliser with an own goal from Nair Tiknizyan on the stroke of half-time.
Razor-sharp in their recent win over Croatia, this time they were blunted by opponents who have twice had the measure of them.
Only five minutes had gone when some slack defending at a corner enabled Lucas Zelarayan to fire Armenia ahead and ignite the home support.
Wales only half-cleared the ball and when it fell to Zelarayan at the edge of the box, the striker cleverly made room for himself by drifting away from Ethan Ampadu before a powerful low shot found the bottom righthand corner.
The goal injected plenty of belief into the Armenians and must have revived good memories of their shock 4-2 victory in Cardiff back in June, especially for Zelarayan (right), who scored twice that night.
But Wales slowly began to
exert some control in the middle of the park through Ampadu and Jordan James.
David Brooks fired over the bar from inside the penalty area and then saw another effort blocked after Kieffer Moore had pounced on an error in the home defence.
But for most of the half, Wales struggled as targetman Moore was unable to hold up the ball under pressure from Varazdat Haroyan.
The out-of-favour
Bournemouth man had one header that flew wide from a cross by Neco Williams, but not much else and it appeared it was going to be a day to forget for Wales when Chris Mepham was booked – a yellow card that rules him out of the game against Turkey next week.
A shot from Harry Wilson forced Ognjen Cancarevic into a fine save just before the break before an own goal from Tiknizyan gave Wales an unexpected route back to level terms. Tiknizyan was under pressure from Joe Rodon as a long Connor Roberts throw came into the box but there was still little excuse for a poor header that skimmed inside his near post.
Page sent Tottenham star Brennan Johnson on for Brooks soon after but it was Armenia who threatened next when Vahan Bichakhchyan sent a shot crashing against the bar.
Daniel James – on for Wilson
– added some threat but when he set-up namesake Jordan there was Cancarevic to save yet again.
But Armenia came on strongly near the end and it needed a block from Williams to deny Artur Miranyan.
Danny Ward responded with a late save from Edgar Sevikyan to ensure only two points were dropped.