BACK OF THE NEC
Williams just in time
LATE SHOW: Williams scores winner and celebrates with Bale ( inset)
RYAN GIGGS believes his Wales team have inherited his old Manchester United side’s habit of scoring late winners.
Liverpool starlet Neco Williams netted a stoppage- time header to beat Bulgaria yesterday at Cardiff City Stadium.
That came on the back of Kieffer Moore’s 80th- minute goal to beat Finland on Friday.
United’s feats under Sir Alex Ferguson contained plenty of dramatic late goals and now Giggs’ Wales are on a roll.
He said: “It is a great have. We keep going. trait to
“It has an effect on opponents if you keep scoring late goals and it gives you belief to keep going until the end, which we did.
“It was our best move of the game and it came in the last minute. You need that desire, quality and fitness.”
Wales travel to England for a friendly next month with Giggs insisting his side can shock them.
“We have a lot of quality,” he added. “England have shown their quality but we are getting there as well.”
It was fairy- tale stuff for Williams as he caught the eye along with David Brooks, who previously starred for England Under- 20s.
Their contributions ensured Wales triumphed in successive ties despite talisman Gareth Bale still struggling for form.
His rustiness was underlined in the 56th minute when he stuck a routine pass on his left foot out for a throw- in.
The hosts laboured for long spells against a side ranked 36 places below them in 59th.
Wales tested keeper Georgi Georgiev in the 68th minute as Dan James curled in an effort from the edge of the box after a one- two with Brooks.
And Bale still had enough in the tank with 10 minutes left to run back to make a vital interception on the edge of the Wales box.
The Dragons skipper also put a left- foot shot over from just outside the box in the last minute minute. But it didn’t matter as Williams popped up to net a back- post header from fellow substitute Jonny Williams’ cross following a patient build- up.
Williams, 19, was previously eligible for England due to his grandparents.
But he said: “My family are Welsh, I am Welsh and my friends are Welsh. For me it was always going to be Wales.
“England will be a great game and with the quality we have in this squad, we are going to prove we are capable of beating them.
“All the boys are excited and can’t wait for the game.”
Hennessey 6; Roberts 6
( N Williams 65, 7), Lockyer 6, Ampadu 7, Davies 7; Smith 6, Morrell 6; Bale 6, BROOKS 7 ( J Williams 76), James 6; Moore 6
( Robson- Kanu 61, 6).
Georgiev 6; Cicinho 6, DIMITROV 7, Nedyalkov 7, Goranov 6; Karagaren 6, Kostadinov 6, Karabelyov 6, Ivanov 6 ( Delev 70, 6); Nedelev 6 ( Krastev 82); Kraev 6 ( Iliev 61, 6).
Fabio Verissimo ( Portugal) 6.