MOORE’S THE MERRIER AS WALES SCRAP TO POINT
Ex-lifeguard Kieffer goes from Truro part-timer to goal hero as Wales draw
THE established players in this Wales squad had been saying all week that it is for a new generation to make memories now. That a 28-year-old should have been the one to do so in their opening game says everything about his struggle for recognition in football.
Kieffer Moore was playing parttime for Truro less than 10 years ago, working as a lifeguard and personal trainer to supplement his income.
Even 20 goals this season for Cardiff City seemed to have left Wales’ manager Rob Page unconvinced that he should be the focus of Wales’ attack as their tournament began.
There can be no doubters now. This game was disappearing from Wales—with the Borussia Monchengladbach forward Breel Embolo giving centre backs Joe Rodon and Chris Mepham a desperately torrid time — when Moor e arrived to leap and head home an equaliser of great technical merit.
That was by no means the end of the struggle for Wales, who can consider themselves fortunate to have emerged with anything from the game.
Goal keeper Danny Ward continued the form he showed against France 10 days ago with a save of the highest order to tip away an Embolo header.
Page said last night that it was ‘a positive start’ but it is hard to view this game that way.
It was a pale imitation of what Wales brought to t he France championships five years ago, with less ambition and a lot less of the counter- attacking power which was so thrilling back then.
They did not manage to get Gareth Bale into possession — the captain was a marginal figure — and sat so deep for long periods that that they invited Swiss pressure and shots on goal.
After a few brief incursions at the start from Manchester United’s Dan James – who was the outstanding attacking threat for Wales, alongside Moore — Wales seemed to have given up the ghost until the equaliser came.
The pre- match ceremony had actually promised far more. In the vast, near-deserted stadium, the Wales players turned to face the small pocket of their fans — 200 or so — to sing the anthem. An excellent touch.
Briefly, there was evidence of what a danger Moore and rapid wide players might bring.
James had given the right back Fabian Schar a torrid half hour before the defender was booked for barging him to the ground as he threatened to burst away. This was the combination which brought the outstanding save of the first half. Keeper Yann Sommer leapt to glove the ball over the bar after James had stood up a ball that Moore leapt to direct towards the top corner.
He offers a lot more than a 6ft 4in centre forward target but his capacity to generate power out of nowhere with his headers served Wales well.
The attacking duo were so effective it was a mystery Wales did not try to profit more often. Instead, they dropped deeper and deeper, with Joe Allen needed for such constant surveillance of Xherdan Shaqiri t hat he was unable to create anything worthwhile from midfield.
The game began to belong to Embolo, the Cameroon-born 24- year- old, who twisted inside Wales’ two centre halves and broke through on goal, forcing Ward to palm the ball away. From the ensuing Shaqiri corner — levered into the six- yard box yet again — he headed home because Connor Roberts was not even watching the ball, let alone challenging for it.
The goal helped Wales, drawing some ambition and drive from a side who dared not contemplate an opening defeat in a group which also includes Italy, their last opponents.
Ben Davies struck a half volley from the edge of box. A Ramsey free kick sailed fractionally over Moore’s head. But Embolo continued to terrorise, curling a shot margin ally wide, before Moore’s header put Wales back level.
He lost his marker with a diagonal run f or a ball Joe Morrell had arced into him, leapt and angled a header which flew beyond Sommer.
James, a persistent threat, was understandably baffled to be substituted on 75 minutes.
‘Who? Me?’ he asked Page. The manager indicated last night that he had wanted to get more crosses in for Moore and also felt James was exhausted.
‘I have to make those decisions if it’s for someone of David Brooks’ quality coming in on the right and Bale on his left getting crosses for Kieffer,’ said Page.
‘I thought Dan ran himself into the ground. He gave us everything. He was dead on his feet. It is not about keeping individuals happy.’
Brooks did come close to sending Aaron Ramsey in on goal at the death, delivering a cross that the No 10 could not quite meet.
But the last 10 minutes belonged to the Swiss, who could have scored three and were left to rue their profligacy.
There was also an agonising wait for a VAR decision to go in Wales’ favour after substitute Mario Gavranovic had the ball in the net following the equaliser.
‘We just didn’t benefit or take advantage of our free kicks or opportunities,’ said Switzerland manager Vladimir Petkovic, whose side had 18 shots on goal but managed only four on target.
For Page, who revealed that this felt like ‘ a win in the changing room’, there are positives to take.
There is the confidence the display will bring to Ward, whose kicking distribution is consistently accurate and a way of building attacks. Moore, whose link-up play was also excellent, will also be buoyant. ‘He’s not just a presence up t op, he’s more t han t hat,’ said Page.
‘He’s got a good touch for a big lad and he’s a willing runner. That’s a recipe for success.’
To have held out amid adversity in this way will surely have bolstered spirits within the squad.
But this stadium will be packed with the best part of 30,000 Turkey fans four days from now and surely only a win will do then. Wales must raise their game if they are to go on a journey like the one that made those memories five years ago.