Isco inspires Spain to highly impressive win over poor Italy
Wales have become specialists in unleashing teenage superkids. To the names Ryan Giggs and Gareth Bale, you might soon be adding Ben Woodburn.
Liverpool’s youngster revived Wales’ World Cup hopes with a stunning debut winner and a virtuoso cameo that had Cardiff chanting and toasting his name.
The 17-year-old had not played for his country until the 69th minute of this win-or-bust qualifier with Austria, but he answered the call in style. Within five minutes of his introduction he found space on the edge of the penalty area, worked the ball on to his right foot and struck past Austrian keeper Heinz Lindner from 20 yards.
At full-time, each member of the squad rushed to congratulate the youngster. The unused subs joined in lifting him from the turf. “Super Ben Woodburn,” the crowd sang as he made his exit, his life changed forever.
Wales needed a hero, but even those supporters could not have believed one so young would salvage their fading qualification hopes. “It one of those nights we will remember,” said Chris Coleman, the national team manager.
“It was a great way to win the game. It was going to take something special to win the game and we got that from Ben. I told him to enjoy it and express himself but nothing I said made him score that goal.
“I know he is young but he is not a player we just discovered. We had him through our system. He would have come to Serbia last season but for injury. I had no worries about him at all. His all-round play was very intelligent and composed and I am delighted for him.
“Sometimes when you are a good young player the test is whether you can handle the step up in training and then the debut. He has passed with flying colours. He has a lot of hard work still ahead of him, but we have seen he is capable at our level and can make a difference. He did that.”
Coleman must take some credit for the courage to send him on. Last year Jurgen Klopp felt the teenager’s Welsh call-up premature, but he has developed physically in pre-season.
It is even sweeter for Wales to consider how Woodburn – born in Chester – could have been playing for England, but stuck with the country he had represented through the youth ranks. He qualifies through his grandfather.
Thrillingly, he has a penchant for making an impression on his debut. He became Liverpool’s youngest goalscorer last season, a goal against Leeds United in the League Cup. Whatever he does for his club, there may never be a more timely goal for his country.
Wales had been given a fillip before kick-off, offered an opening to revive their campaign with the Republic of Ireland only drawing in Georgia. They knew two wins would close the gap on Serbia, especially as the leaders meet the Irish next week.
But this was a fragile looking starting line-up, aside from the stardust offered by Bale and Aaron Ramsey. Joe Allen was suspended forcing Coleman to retain David Edwards in a lightweight midfield. He also offered Derby County winger Tom Lawrencehis first competitive start.
Austria started the night on equal points as the Welsh and Coleman’s side had to accept to long periods in the first half without possession. It made for some uncomfortable viewing as the Austrians pushed forward, but curiously it also offered periods of reassurance for the home side.
Counter-attacking football suits them, especially when Bale is given the freedom to explore wherever takes his fancy. Naturally, when he was near the ball the dynamic shifted. Getting enough of it to him was the problem.
There was encouragement within two minutes when Austria’s defensive midfielders were absent and the Real Madrid man was able to run unchallenged, the ball sadly falling on his able right foot rather than deadly left. He scuffed his effort.
Ramsey – far more enterprising in a Welsh rather than Arsenal shirt these days – dribbled through but shot over on nine minutes; Coleman needed his senior figures at their best, so this was a promising sign.
But Austria had more skill across the park. Bayern Munich midfielder David Alaba could not be shadowed by the makeshift Welsh midfield, and it was fortunate the player Marko Arnautovic sees in the mirror has little resemblance to the real thing. Arnautovic struts around like Zlatan Ibrahimovic tribute act – and in occasional flashes his ability matches the ego – but having been gifted an easy chance on 33 minutes he swatted pathetically over the bar. Relief for Cardiff.
Coleman made a crucial tactical switch at half-time, Andy King sent on to offer more protection in the middle. Three centre-backs became two and Bale started to get more of the ball, cutting inside from a more orthodox right-wing role.
Lindner pushed wide a Bale strike from 25 yards as the home belief soared, and Ramsey also forced the Austrian keeper into action with a run and shot.
The desperation for a winner was tangible, so Coleman gambled with a double substitution on 69 minutes sending on Hal Robson-Kanu and the precocious Woodburn.
Liverpool’s youngster made his mark instantly. Woodburn said the adrenalin rush would stop him from sleeping, but now he has the Welsh dreaming of Russia again. Spain struck a potentially decisive blow in the battle for top spot in their World Cup qualifying pool by sweeping aside Italy 3-0 in Madrid.
Two goals from Real Madrid’s Isco, the first a glorious right-footed freekick into the top corner after 13 minutes and the second a crisp left-footed shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the area after 40, set the hosts on their way.
A close-range finish from Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata in the 77th minute completed a comprehensive win and lifted Spain three points clear of their opponents at the top of Group G.
The two sides came into the clash with identical records of five wins and one draw – in the reverse fixture last October – but Julen Lopetegui’s men emerged as the overwhelming favourites to book an automatic spot at next summer’s tournament in Russia.
They have games against Lichtenstein, Albania and Israel to come.
Italy look comfortable in second spot, with a four-point lead over Albania following the latter’s 2-0 home win over Lichtenstein courtesy of secondhalf goals from Odise Roshi and Ansi Agolli.
Lower down the group Israel slumped to a shock 1-0 home defeat to Macedonia, Goran Pandev with the 73rd-minute winner.
Serbia moved two points clear of the Republic of Ireland at the top of Group D thanks to a routine 3-0 home victory over bottom side Moldova. Mijat Gacinovic opened the scoring in the 21st minute, with Aleksandar Kolarov making it two eight minutes later.
Newcastle’s Aleksandar Mitrovic wrapped up the win 10 minutes from time as Serbia took full advantage of the Republic dropping points in Georgia.
Ukraine took advantage of some bizarre circumstances in Group I to leap from fourth place to first with a 2-0 win at home to Turkey.
Borussia Dortmund’s new signing Andriy Yarmolenko struck twice in the first half to put Ukraine in pole position in the tightest of the nine qualification pools.
They are one point clear of Croatia, who have a game in hand after their match at home to Kosovo was abandoned after 27 minutes, with the score at 0-0, due to heavy rain which left the pitch in Zagreb unplayable.
Iceland are also one point off Ukraine, although their hopes were hit by a 1-0 loss in Finland.
Alexander Ring’s eight-minute freekick ended up being the deciding goal, while Iceland finished the match with 10 men following the 75th-minute dismissal of Rurik Gislason, who picked up two yellow cards in three minutes.
The Turks are two points further back in fourth.