Bale to the rescue as Wales snatch US draw

Al Rayyan: Gareth Bale rescued Wales with a late penalty to snatch a 1-1 draw with the United States in their World Cup Group B clash yesterday at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium. Welsh skipper Bale lashed home an 82nd-minute spot kick after earning the penalty moments earlier when defender Walker Zimmerman crashed into the former Real Madrid star.

It cancelled out Tim Weah’s superb first-half goal for the Americans which had threatened to ruin Wales’s return to the World Cup after a 64-year absence. Bale’s equaliser triggered roars from a large and raucous contingent of Wales fans in a crowd of 43,418 fans.

Until that moment it looked as if Wales were heading for a defeat, struggling to break down a skillful and energetic US squad that is the second youngest at the tournament. Wales were outplayed for long periods of the first half, with manager Rob Page’s decision not to start towering centre-forward Kieffer Moore depriving them of an attacking outlet.

Instead it was the US who made all the early running, with Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic a constant darting menace. The positive early play almost resulted in a goal after just nine minutes when Sergino Dest played in Weah down the right.

Wales face Iran on Friday in their second Group B game while the United States face a tough game against England, 6-2 winners over the Iranians earlier yesterday.