DRAGONS FLY
Welsh heroes stay in hunt for Euro finals
Ryan Giggs admits he’s relieved Wales are still in with a shout of automatic Euro 2020 qualification.
First-half goals from Kieffer Moore and Harry Wilson killed Azerbaijan in Baku and secured a first Welsh away win in 13 months.
Now they face a potential winnertakes- all clash with Hungary in Cardiff on Tuesday.
Gaffer Giggs said: “The result was the main thing. It’s set up nicely for Tuesday, depending on other results.
“The ref handled the game well and there were no silly fouls from us – we needed our best players available for the game with the Hungarians.
“We’ve played some good football at times which is pleasing. It could have been better but overall I was happy with the performance.”
Wales are guaranteed the cushion of a play- off spot in March after Sweden beat Romania on Friday.
The Wales defence was seldom troubled and key men Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey both had game time after injury and could feature in the Hungary showdown.
Azerbaijan had not won at home for 12 months and were without a victory in European qualifying. But Giggs had stressed the danger of underestimating the world’s 111th team, 87 places below Wales.
Azerbaijan keeper Salahat Agayev was tested early on by Wilson and Joe Morrell.
But the goalie was helpless in 10 minutes when Wilson sent his corner to the far post and 6ft 5ins Moore got highest to head home.
Giggs said: “Kieffer is a threat and we knew they might be weak at set-pieces. We were pleased the big man’s on the scoresheet again.”
Wales doubled their lead in 34 minutes when Daniel James was fed down the left and his stinging effort hit bar and post before bouncing up for Wilson to nod in the rebound.
Wales had the ball in the net again five minutes after the restart but Tom Lock yer’s header was disallowed for a push.
Wales held on comfortably for the win and man-of-the-match Wilson said: “We needed to produce a performance and we’ve done that.
“The big man got a goal early on and it was nice for me to get a second soon after to settle us down. We could have had a couple more.”