Gareth Bale rescued a point from the penalty spot as Wales drew 1-1 with the USA in their first World Cup game in 64 years. It was a hard-fought battle in which Rob Page’s men were second-best for the majority, but this Wales team, this unit, simply do not know when they are beaten.
And of course, when it came down to it, it was their talisman that stepped up to the plate. He was brought down by a clumsy challenge in the box, and then thumped the resulting penalty into the top corner. It was unstoppable. It was so typically Bale.
The two sides belted out their national anthems with pride and USA came out flying. Timothy Weah took a delightful touch on the right and fired the ball across goal, where Joe Rodon diverted it towards his own goal. Somehow, Wayne Hennessey kept it out, before Norwich City’s Josh Sargent just missed the target with a close range header.
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Two quick yellow cards halted the US rampage, but they were clearly the dominant side in the first half. Finally, they made their superiority count thanks to a famous name. Timothy Weah, son of the great George, ran onto a through ball from Christian Pulisic and poked home the ball to score the USA’s first goal at this World Cup.
His father never got the chance to play at a World Cup, but the president of Liberia has taken time out of his role to travel to Qatar and watch his son play. The 1995 Ballon d’Or winner will have been beaming with pride as Timothy finished with all the class of his father to give the USA a 1-0 lead at the break.
The first half was a one-sided affair, but Rob Page introduced target man Kieffer Moore at the break. He instantly gave them a target, a figurehead to hit and they were able to progress up the pitch. The Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, which had been a hotbed of US support in the first period, was all of a sudden seemingly all behind the men in red.
Ben Davies saw his header tipped over, before Moore flicked a header just over the bar from a corner, but the tide had turned. Wales kept on fighting back into the game, but they couldn’t find a breakthrough, until the USA gave them a huge chance.
Gareth Bale was brought down in the box by Ream and Wales’ greatest ever player stood up to fire the ball into the top corner. The fans behind the goal went wild as they celebrated their first World Cup goal in 64 years.
Even when they weren’t at their best, they secured a point that gives them a great chance of progression, should they beat Iran on Friday. It was tough, but the second half and the last ten minutes in particular will give them huge confidence heading into the next two group games. One thing is for sure, on this showing, Moore will play a much bigger role over the next two matches, and beyond - if things go Wales’ way.
A momentous point. A momentous goal.
Yma o Hyd. We’re still here.
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