WALES ARE SPARED BY LATE SHOW FROM BALE

WITH no margin for error in Group E, victory was the only option for Wales last night and Ryan Giggs’ men just delivered. Talisman Gareth Bale, yet again, was the man who produced the goods. A frustrated figure at Real Madrid this summer, Bale exploded into life just in the nick of time to rescue Wales’ hopes of Euro 2020 qualification. Bale bundled home Joe Allen’s deflected effort on 84 minutes to spare the blushes of Giggs’ men. The hosts were gifted the lead thanks to a comical own goal from Pavlo Pashayev on 26 minutes but Azerbaijan, ranked 109 in the world, levelled on 59 minutes through Mahir Emreli. Wales started with intent at the Cardiff City Stadium and ought to have taken the lead after five minutes. Bale delivered a teasing cross into the box but Tom Lawrence volleyed narrowly wide of the Azerbaijan goal. However, the visitors fired a warning shot of their own on 12 minutes. Defender Bahlul Mustafazade was allowed to charge into Welsh territory and fired a fizzing drive narrowly wide of Wayne Hennessey’s net. The hosts were becoming ragged and Harry Wilson was lucky not to see red for appearing to lash out at Richard Almeida off the ball. A comical own goal gifted Wales the lead. Bale’s looping shot deflected into the air. Goalkeeper Salahat Agayev came off his line for a routine catch but Azerbaijan’s Pashayev inexplicably let the ball cannon off his shoulder — and it flew over the hapless Agayev and into the net. Azerbaijan levelled on 59 minutes. Emreli pounced to slot home the rebound after Hennessey fumbled his initial effort. But Bale saved the day and Wales moved up to third in Group E, two points behind Hungary and Croatia.