POINT-BLANK BALE’S FAIL
TOUGH LOSS FOR DRAGONS AFTER GARETH MISSES SITTER
GARETH BALE’S woes deepened with another misfiring display as Wales crashed to defeat in Budapest.
The Real Madrid star is still struggling having not played for his club since April after been axed by Zinedine Zidane.
And last night he blew a glorious chance to put the Dragons ahead.
Both Talisman Bale and Ryan Giggs’ new-look side appear way off the form which took them to the last four at Euro 2016.
At this rate they may have to forget about qualifying for the next finals, having slipped to fourth in Group E. Bale’s was the attempted finish of an out-of-sorts player low on confidence, whereas Mate Patkai was clinical with Hungary’s winner 10 minutes from time.
Wales have now won just once in their first three qualifiers – their opener against Slovakia.
But Giggs is not afraid to ring the changes to try to find success. He made five to the side which lost 2-1 in Croatia on Saturday.
In came Chris Gunter, Ashley Williams, Ethan Ampadu, Tom Lawrence and David Brooks.
Out went Connor Roberts, Chris Mepham, Will Vaulks, Matt Smith and Harry Wilson.
That saw Williams, winning his 86th cap, taking back the captaincy from Bale.
The fresh legs seemed to help, with Wales making a much better start than they had in Croatia.
They knocked the ball around well, and effectively pressed the hosts in a cagey opening. Tom Lawrence forced Peter Gulacsi into an early save with a clever flick.
But there was a scare for the visitors in the 15th minute when Balazs Dzsudzsak released striker Adam Szalai and he flashed a shot across goal.
Wales responded when Manchester United-bound Dan James (left) raced clear down the left on a 50-yard run before crossing for Lawrence to shoot low at Gulacsi.
Wales had a number of set-pieces but did not use them as well as the hosts.
Hungary defender Willi Orban headed into the sidenetting from one dangerous Dzsudzsak free-kick.
After the break, Bale looked certain to add to his record 31 goals for Wales when Tom Lawrence squared after a clever ball by Brooks. But he hopelessly scuffed a closerange right-foot shot into the air, which Gulacsi caught.
Wales keeper Wayne Hennessey then had to save a thumping shot from sub Laszlo Kleinheisler.
He was less convincing with the subsequent corner, flapping at it before Joe Allen scrambled the ball away.
But Wales did not heed the warning and Patkai fired in when they failed to clear.