Bale proves Wales saviour with late winner in Cardiff

Gareth Bale spared Wales a humiliating night in Euro 2020 qualifying with a late winner in a 2-1 home victory over Azerbaijan.

Bale struck his 32nd goal for Wales six minutes from time, rising to head home after Joe Allen’s shot had been deflected high into the Cardiff air.

Wales had been gifted a first-half lead when Pavlo Pashayev scored a bizarre own goal, but Mahir Emreli punished a sloppy home display with a 58th-minute equaliser.

Azerbaijan are ranked 109th in the world – 85 places below Wales – and their only competitive away wins came in the Faroe Islands and San Marino.

But Wales, who could not afford to drop points after June defeats in Croatia and Hungary, were poor throughout and there was more relief than satisfaction at the final whistle.

Manchester United’s Daniel James was into the action as early as the second minute when his curtailed run ended with a Harry Wilson free-kick and Joe Rodon almost making a dream start at the far post. Bale allowed Tom Lawrence to volley wide, but Wales were soon running down cul-de-sacs and their rising frustration was illustrated when Wilson left his mark on Richard Almeida.

Bale dropped deeper as Wales sought a route to goal, but there was little cause for optimism until Pashayev’s bizarre intervention. The Wales captain turned infield to strike a shot which hit Dmitri Nazarov and spun into the air.

Azerbaijan appeared to have little to worry about, but Salahat Agayev came rushing out of his goal and the ball struck Pasahayev’s head and trickled in to an unguarded net.

Wales were still struggling to get out of first gear when Azerbaijan landed a sucker punch.

Neil Taylor’s mistake allowed Ramil Sheydaev to release Emreli, who had the freedom of the Wales half to run into.

Emreli’s effort was tame, but Wayne Hennessey failed to hold the shot and the rebound was summarily dispatched.

Wales poured forward in search of a winner, but time was running out until Bale proved their saviour.