SUPER DAN STORMS IN
James keeps his head as tempers flare
DAN JAMES powered in a dramatic late header to settle this qualifier on a stormy night in Cardiff when both sides ended with 10 men.
Manchester United winger James may be small in stature but he rose superbly to head in his third international goal in the 81st minute.
James settled the tie with a brilliant downward header from skipper Gareth Bales’ excellent left-foot curling cross.
It capped a dramatic night as Connor Roberts went down poleaxed after Patrik Schick pushed him in the throat and was sent off.
But the hosts ended up with 10 men themselves when Tomas Soucek helped earn Roberts a second booking in a fiery game.
Wales and skipper Bale were initially unable to capitalise on Schick’s dismissal early in the second half.
The game looked set for stalemate as Roberts ended up taking an early bath 14 minutes from time when Soucek made a meal of his aerial challenge.
But some brilliance from Bale on the flank teed-up James, who still had a lot of work to do to find the back of the net.
Victory boosts caretaker boss Rob Page’s prospects of succeeding absent manager Ryan Giggs, who is on police bail.
And it keeps Wales firmly in the hunt for second place in the group, assuming World No.1 ranked side Belgium win it.
The visitors included Slavia Prague’s Ondrej Kudela, despite police investigating an alleged racist row with Rangers’ Glen Kamara earlier this month.
Unlike Wales, the Czechs opted not to take the knee before kick-off and instead pointed to the UEFA Respect inscription on the sleeve of their shirts.
After thumping Estonia 6-2 and drawing with Belgium, the Czechs arrived in good form.
They made a positive start as Jakub Jankto had an early shot which Danny Ward gathered at the second attempt.
But the visitors nearly gave Harry Wilson a chance when Ondrej Celustka’s slow backpass had keeper Tomas Vaclik racing off his line to clear.
The Czechs remained the more dangerous side as Jankto sent two further efforts wide in the opening 15 minutes.
But it was Wales who went closest to opening the scoring in the 36th minute.
Neco Williams swung over a superb outswinging cross from the left which Bale met at the back post on the volley.
But he did not catch it cleanly and his effort into the ground bounced up for Vaclik to make a superb reaction save to tip over.
Wales also appealed in vain for a penalty before the break when James went to ground in the box after a surging run before being challenged by Soucek.
The Dragons’ prospects received a huge boost in the 48th minute, when Schick received his marching orders for a moment of madness.
The big striker tangled with Roberts at a set-piece which keeper Ward held. He reacted by pushing out at Roberts, towards the defender’s throat.
But despite their numerical advantage, Wales still needed a superb covering tackle by James Lawrence to clear from Lukas Provod, who had beaten Ward in the 56th minute.
Roberts then got his marching orders for his second booking but Bale brilliantly crossed for James to settle the clash.
WALES (3-4-3): Ward 6; Mepham 7 (Moore 57, 6), Rodon 7 Lawrence 8; Roberts 6, Ampadu 6, Morrell 6, N Williams 7; Bale 7, Wilson 6 (J Williams 76), James 7.
CZECH REPUBLIC (4-2-3-1): Vaclik 7; Coufal 7 (Vydra 87), Celustka 7, Kudela 7 (Barak 87), Boril 6; Holes (Krmencik 53, 6) 5, Soucek 7; Provod 7 (Kaderabek 82), Darida 7, Jankto 7 (Masopust 82); Schick 4. REFEREE: Ovidiu Alin Hategan (Romania).