Giggs spared by Bale late show
Captain’s winner keeps Wales in touch
WALeS got the euro 2020 qualifying win they needed, with help from the most calamitous own-goal you will see and a Gareth Bale winner.
The hosts took the lead when a Bale shot deflected into the air. Azerbaijan defender Pavlo Pashayev, not looking at the ball, seemed to assume it was flying over his head — only for it to then smack him and wrong-foot goalkeeper Salahat Agayev.
Wales conceded a poor secondhalf equaliser but Bale saved the day, scoring an 84th- minute header to ensure ryan Giggs’ side stay within touching distance of Group e’s qualification places.
Azerbaijan, sitting bottom of the group, were supposed to represent sitting ducks but the visitors frustrated the hosts before the comic moment saw Wales score before the half-hour mark.
With each replay, it got worse for Pashayev. It was the type of goal that could easily feature on a showreel of football bloopers.
The ‘what happened next?’ moment put Wales in the driving seat but they got caught napping in the second half.
Neil Taylor gave the ball away on the halfway line and ramil Sheydaev played through Mahir emreli, who beat the offside trap. Wayne hennessey saved his first shot, but not his second.
Six minutes from time, a melee in the box saw the ball hanging in the air. Despite Azerbaijan’s desperate attempts to clear, Bale attacked it and headed in.
lrUSSIA came from behind to beat Scotland at hampden Park. John McGinn gave the hosts the lead, but Artem Dzyuba’s strike and a Stephen O’Donnell owngoal left Scotland six points off second-placed russia.