DAN’S THE MAN
James levels to spare Welsh blushes after Ward blunder
DAN JAMES scored a crucial equaliser as Wales recovered from Danny Ward’s comical own-goal to claim a point in the Czech Republic and keep their World Cup qualification hopes alive.
Without injured captain Gareth Bale, Wales took a first-half lead through Aaron Ramsey only for Jakub Pesek to equalise almost instantly. Early in the second half, Ward failed to control Ramsey’s back-pass and allowed the ball to trickle into his own net.
But boss Rob Page made an inspired tactical switch on the hour and one of his substitutes, Harry Wilson, created the second goal for James — which was allowed only after a long VAR check for offside.
The result leaves these teams level on points, with Wales aiming for victory in Estonia on Monday.
Finishing second in the group would likely give them a more favourable play-off draw as they try to reach the World Cup for the first time since 1958.
Bale missed the chance to claim his 100th cap here due to a hamstring injury, meaning the presence of Ramsey was even more important to Wales.
Desperate to get involved, Ramsey was booked inside a minute for a foul on Filip Novak.
Wales could have gone behind in the ninth minute when James was caught napping, allowing the dangerous Patrik Schick to glide towards the visitors’ goal. Schick released Adam Hlozek, whose angled drive was well stopped by Ward. Having survived that scare, Wales let the Czechs off the hook soon afterwards.
Ramsey’s superb ball from deep caught the defence square and found James and Kieffer Moore two-on-one. James delayed and then overhit his pass, meaning keeper Tomas Vaclik had time to block Moore’s attempt.
The home supporters demanded a red card for Ethan Ampadu in the 26th minute for a hefty challenge on Ales Mateju, with the Wales man escaping with a yellow. And their mood grew even worse when Wales took the lead nine minutes before half-time with a brilliant goal, started and finished by Ramsey.
Schick’s 25-yard effort was deflected over for a corner, which Ramsey headed clear to Ampadu. Ampadu found Neco Williams, who had cleverly been left upfield for just such a situation. James just failed to head in Williams’ cross only for Ramsey, who had charged 80 yards, to collect the ball and sweep it into the corner.
That should have been Wales’ cue to take control yet instead they were pegged back inside two minutes. Novak broke free on the left and though Ward parried his low strike, Pesek was quickest to react and he turned in the loose ball from eight yards.
Despite losing their lead, Wales had done enough before the break to believe they could still claim victory, though nothing could have prepared them for the goal that gave the Czechs the lead in the 49th minute.
Ramsey had intercepted Antonin Barak’s pass and directed the ball back towards Ward. Though the back-pass was certainly on the firm side, the Leicester goalkeeper should still have been able to deal with it. Instead he failed to control it and as the ball spun back off his foot, Ward could not recover in time to keep it out of the net.
Page switched to a back four on the hour, sending on Connor Roberts and Wilson. Roberts nearly made an immediate impression when he set up James for a cross to the far post, where Moore’s header was saved. Moore was then lucky not to be booked for attempting to bundle Vaclik into the net even though he had both hands on the ball.
Yet Page’s changes did pay off soon afterwards. With a little more than 20 minutes remaining, Wilson spotted James’ run and weighted his pass perfectly for the winger to shoot across Vaclik.
After a nervy wait for a VAR check, Wales could celebrate again when the goal was confirmed.
On Ward’s mistake, Ramsey said afterwards: ‘Danny has been terrific for us, these things happen from time to time but I’m sure there is nothing to be worried about. We’re glad he’s in goal for us.’
CZECH REPUBLIC (4-3-3): Vaclik; Mateju, Celustka, Kalas, Novak (Wiesner 84); Kral (Kuchta 83), Soucek, Pesek (Vidra 77); Barak (Sadilek 77), Hlozek (Zmrhal 90), Schick. Subs not used: Havel, Mandous, Zima, Brabec, Stanek, Kopic. WALES (4-3-3): Ward; Gunter (C Roberts 60), Mepham (T Roberts 86), Rodon, Ampadu; N Williams (Thomas 76), Allen, Morrell (Wilson 60); Ramsey, Moore, James. Subs not used: Johnson, Harris, Hennessey, Vaulks, J Williams, A Davies, Lawrence, Cabango. Referee: Deniz Aytekin (Germany).