DRAGONFIRE
Sofia so good as supersub Williams is Jonny come lately
JONNY WILLIAMS scored a superb first international goal to keep Wales top of their Nations League group.
The visitors dominated in Sofia but couldn’t find a breakthrough at the Vasil Levski National Stadium until Charlton star Williams came off the bench. The sub created a superb chance for Rabbi Matondo before finding the back of the net himself in the 85th minute.
He struck with clever nearpost shot following a cross from man of the match Neco Williams. It means Ryan Giggs’s side stay top in Group B4 ahead of Finland, who visit Cardiff next month. And it was a result carved out by a side that included eight starters aged under 23, and eight players making their Wales debuts.
A small number of fans were allowed in but there was little excitement for them as Wales
a sixth successive competitive clean sheet.
That’s some record considering last night they were without Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey, Joe Allen, David Brooks and Hal Robson-Kanu.
Luton defender RhysDavies, on loan from Sheffield United, made his debut at left wingb a c k and Liverpool’s Neco Williams got his a first start on the right.
Bulgaria were in poor form after just one win in 18 games and their lack of confidence showed.
The visitors made a bright start as defender Joe Rodon hooked an early effort over after having a header blocked.
Manchester United wide-man Daniel James tried a right-foot curler which keeper Nikolay
Norrington
Mihaylov saved. A brilliant ball from Williams picked out Liverpool team-mate Harry Wilson but the winger was offside.
After the break, Wales remained the more dangerous side with Kop kid Williams posing a threat down the right. His cross a llowed Ty l er Roberts to pick out NorringtonDavies but the debutant’s leftfoot finish went horribly wide.
Giggs threw on Matondo for the lacklustre James in a bid to fire up the visitors. But the Schalke ace blew a great chance when he ballooned his left-foot finish at the back post from fellow sub Williams’ cross.
Williams himself made no mistake with a clinical near-post finish. The 27-year-old, tightly marked, had a lot to do but siderecorded footed home the sweetest of strikes. Williams said: “It was an amazing moment for me. I wondered if I’d ever get my first goal for Wales but finally I have. We’ve had a lot of clean sheets and we keep winning. We were missing some outstanding players so to come away with three points is amazing.”
The goal sealed a gritty win for Wales, who had to replace injured keeper Wayne Hennessey with Adam Davies late on.
Wales play Ireland and then Finland next month in Cardiff.
The last game is likely to decide the group winners and promotion to a place among Europe’s elite.
Mihaylov 6, Cicinho 6, Terziev 6, Dimitrov 6, Nedyalkov 6, Malinov 5 (Tsvetkov 45, 6), Karabelyov 6, Despodov 6, Nedelev 6, Yomov 6, Kraev 6
Hennessey 6 (Davies 79, 6), Rodon 7, Mepham 7, Davies 7, N Williams 8, Ampadu 7, Smith 6 (Levitt 72, 6), Norrington-Davies 6, James 6 (Matondo 54, 5), T Roberts 7, Wilson 6 (J Williams 72, 7)