After being fouled by Belarus, Gareth Bale, Wales' skipper is helped to his feet
Gareth Bale scored a match-winning hat trick deep in injury time to save Wales' humiliating defeat against Belarus in Russia. This saved them from a loss and kept alive their hopes of qualifying at the 2022 World Cup.
Wales started well, with the first of two Bale penalties giving them an early lead. But they faltered in the second half as goals by Vitali Lisakovich (Pavel Sedko) put Belarus in control.
Lisakovich scored on the spot after Chris Gunter had been penalised for a raised leg. Then, an unmarked Sedko punished shambolic defence from Wales. They were lucky to not be further behind at halftime.
Bale scored his second spot kick to level the match for Wales midway through the second period. In the third minute of injury time, the captain saved his country with a low shot, which squirmed underneath the goalkeeper Sergei Chernik, and into the net.
After losing the opening match to Belgium, Wales couldn't afford to lose this game.
And after staring at an unwelcome defeat in Kazan, which would have effectively ended their hopes of qualifying automatically for 2022 World Cup Qatar, this wonderful victory keeps the dream alive, however unlikely it may seem.
Only the winners of each group qualify. Group E leaders Belgium are the overwhelming favourites ahead Wales and the Czech Republic, which are second and third respectively.
Robert Page's team has five more games to catch their rivals. They begin against Estonia in Cardiff on Wednesday. But, even at this early stage of the game, the play-offs seem like the most likely route to their first World Cup appearance since 1958.
Wales would be guaranteed a spot in the play-offs if they finish second in their respective groups. However, Wales can rest assured that their Nations League win has almost guaranteed their passage to the playoffs.
This might not have been the expectation of Wales when they were drawn into such a difficult group, but they have an outside chance to beat Belgium after their escape against Belarus, which is ranked 89th in world rankings.
For Wales, 'Nightmares' is almost a reality
For Wales, whose preparations were disrupted like never in their history, this was almost a nightmare.
They were also without three more players due to visa issues, in addition to the 10 players who were absent because they were injured, suspended, or Covid-19.
Because of sanctions against Belarus' government, the game was moved from Belarus to Kazan in Russia.
It's not surprising that Page described the fixture as a "nightmare logistically". However, Wales were still expected beat a Belarus team that is 70 places lower in Fifa rankings.
Bale and Ben Davies looked perfectly placed to win the penalty within five minutes. Bale seized on to a ball from Ben Davies into the Belarus penalty box and was awarded a penalty. After taking a touch, Chernik pushed the Wales captain to the ground.
Bale sent the Belarus skipper in the wrong direction with his penalty. He fired into the bottom-right corner, ending a 16 match streak without an international goal that began in 2019.
Wales was in control at that point, and they had the chance to extend their lead. Joe Allen saved a shot by Chernik and Daniel James pushing one narrowly wide.
After half an hour, however, the contest was overturned as Wales collapsed.
Gunter was the first one to make a mistake by kicking Nikolai Zolotov high. Lisakovich then punished Lisakovich with a severe low penalty. Then centre-backs James Lawrence, Chris Mepham and Chris Mepham were horribly out of place as Sedko scored Belarus’ second.
Although the home team was on neutral ground, they should have been more ahead at half-time, but Aleksandr Sachivko, Danila Klimovich, and Danila Klimovich wasted great opportunities.
These were costly mistakes as Wales were given a second penalty after Davies was pushed in his back while attempting a header on goal. Bale, who missed a spot-kick at Euro 2020 this summer, scored his second goal of the match as he sent Chernik in the wrong direction once more.
Wales knew that a draw against such lowly opponents was futile, but their last desperate attempts to win a match looked doomed.
Bale was able to get the ball inside the box, and with only a minute left, his low, left-footed strike, weak by his high standards, slipped under Chernick. He rolled over the line for his hat-trick, and Wales's late heist.
