Hal is in heaven as Welsh rise up
WALES boosted their chances of qualifying for the World Cup as they moved above Republic of Ireland into second place in Group D last night.
Victory over Moldova, thanks to late goals from Hal Robson-Kanu and Aaron Ramsey, put them into position for a potential play-off place, after Ireland lost 1-0 to leaders Serbia.
WALES once again left it late to keep themselves in the running for a place at next year’s World Cup as Hal Robson-Kanu and Aaron Ramsey struck to seal a crucial win.
But it was Liverpool’s rising star Ben Woodburn who starred from the bench as he set up the breakthrough goal when he put the ball on a plate for RobsonKanu 10 minutes from time.
That came just three days after Woodburn announced himself on the international stage with his vital strike against Austria.
Ramsey made sure the army of travelling Wales fans could relax with a stoppage-time second as Chris Coleman’s men live to fight another day.
The nerve-splitting triumph catapults Wales above Ireland in Group D, meaning they need only four points to guarantee second spot.
The mission had been clear; Wales’s golden generation had to leave the former Soviet state with a victory before another pair of must-win games against Georgia and the Irish.
Mission accomplished – and now two more triumphs should be good enough to sneak into the play-offs as one of the eight best runners-up.
Coleman was not taking any chances in the city where he experienced one of his darkest defeats during his playing career 23 years ago.
It was revealed hours before kick-off they would be wearing a one-off yellow strip inspired by the cross of St David, the patron saint of Wales, to replace their ‘cursed’ grey kit.
In the five matches they wore the alternate anthracite colours, they lost three and drew two, including the Euro 2016 semi-final defeat at the hands of Portugal.
Another reason for Wales fans to be smiling was the inclusion of Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen, who returned after serving a suspension. Coleman was able to select the trio for the 15th time in his 46game reign but they could not break the stubborn Moldovans down in the first period.
Wales had won eight of those games and their presence kept 17-year-old wonderkid Woodburn on the bench despite his heroics against Austria.
Instead Coleman stuck with Tom Lawrence and RobsonKanu to lead the line and it was the latter who went close early on from Ramsey’s corner before Wales wasted a second chance to take the lead.
Bale cut inside from the right flank before firing a shot that keeper Ilie Cebanu spilled into the path of Ramsey, but neither he nor Robson-Kanu could force the ball home. Moldova did not look like a team without a competitive win since 2013 as they threatened Wayne Hennessey’s goal with some dangerous free-kick deliveries.
Ben Davies was next to try his luck when he controlled a high-ball but his long-range strike flew just wide.
But perhaps the best chance came on the stroke of half-time when Allen won the ball back and fed Ramsey but the Arsenal
midfielder screwed his shot into the stands.
Wales dominated the opening exchanges of the second half and almost made their pressure pay through Robson-Kanu but he failed to find the net after a trademark turn and shot.
Woodburn was brought on in the 61st minute as Coleman looked for a spark to break down the Moldova resistance. But they were almost broken themselves when a mix-up between James Chester and Williams left the goal gaping, but the hosts could not finish.
The Liverpool starlet began to make things tick and the pressure valve was almost released by Bale but Artiom Rozgoniuc cleared off the line.
Ramsey had a shot deflected over the bar and fears were mounting that the late charge towards a first World Cup in 60 years was fading away.
But just when hope was vanishing, Woodburn burst down the right and crossed for Robson-Kanu to stoop and head in just at the right time.
Ramsey then made sure of the victory when he let loose from just inside the box and saw his shot take a wicked deflection over Cebanu and into the net. Game over.