Gareth can’t bail Wales out this time
GARETH BALE was unable to save Ryan Giggs’ Welsh side from a potentially costly defeat in a dramatic finale in Cardiff.
A Wales win would have guaranteed them top spot in Group B4 and a Euro 2020 play-off game if they did not qualify automatically.
But despite Giggs naming an exciting attacking side, they failed to take their chances before Bale pulled a goal back late on.
Danish skipper Christian Eriksen and his team-mates were simply more clinical.
The impressive Eriksen was involved in a rapid counterattack which led to Nicolai Jorgensen firing a 42nd-minute opener.
Kasper Schmeichel brilliantly saved Bale’s 82nd-minute free-kick.
And Wales were hit when Martin Braithwaite struck a superb right-footer on the turn to make it 2-0 in the 88th minute.
Almost immediately, though, Bale latched on to Ashley Williams’ long ball to take the ball round Schmeichel and halve the deficit.
But the visitors held out as ultimately Wales’ attacking, entertaining style, using flyers David Brooks and Tyler Roberts, counted for little.
Wales dominated the second half but got little change from a more experienced and ruthless Denmark side. Paul Dummett’s first competitive game for Wales lasted only 38 minutes as he went off injured to be replaced by Chris Gunter.
It was Gunter’s 92nd international appearance – equalling Neville Southall’s Wales record from 1982-1998.
But his landmark was swiftly marred as Thomas Delaney, Eriksen and Yussuf Poulsen combined in a slick move to help tee up Jorgensen to slot in a low right-foot finish.
In the second half Brooks, Connor Roberts and Bale all went close before Braithwaite thumped in.
Yet Manchester United legend Giggs will have been at least pleased to see Bale net and his men battle until the very end in a spiky spell of injury-time action.