Wales will seem on the World Cup for the primary time in 64 years after Andriy Yarmolenko’s personal objective ensured a 1-0 qualifying play-off ultimate win over Ukraine.
Ukraine marked their first aggressive match again after Russia’s invasion with a 3-1 play-off semi-final win over Scotland on Wednesday to tee up the winner-takes-all decider in Cardiff.
Oleksandr Petrakov’s guests managed first-half proceedings however have been made to pay when Gareth Bale, with the assistance of Yarmolenko’s head, struck first after 34 minutes.
Wales have been largely indebted to the heroics of Wayne Hennessey as Rob Web page’s workforce held on to e-book their spot in Qatar alongside England, United States and Iran in World Cup Group B.
7 – Excluding penalties, solely England (9) have scored extra targets from set-pieces than Wales (7) in European qualifying matches for the 2022 World Cup. Technique. pic.twitter.com/4mU5VZ2RDQ
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 5, 2022
A protracted-range Viktor Tsygankov drive compelled an early save from Hennessey, who tipped over a deflected cross from the Ukraine winger from the ensuing nook.
Oleksandr Petrakov’s guests, buoyed on by a vociferous away crowd, continued with their dominance as one other good Hennessey cease denied Roman Yaremchuk as he threatened with a drilled effort.
Hennessey stored out Oleksandr Zinchenko’s roller and the Wales goalkeeper’s plethora of first-half saves paid dividends, with Yarmolenko heading Bale’s goal-bound free-kick previous Georgi Bushchan.
Aaron Ramsey angled an excellent likelihood from Kieffer Moore’s cutback broad, whereas Hennessey kicked away Tsygankov’s close-range prod in an entertaining second-half opening.
Ruslan Malinovskiy fired a deflected strike broad as Ukraine looked for an equaliser, with Brennan Johnson hitting the submit and Bushchan denying Bale on the different finish throughout a frenetic end.
Hennessey was once more the hero as he produced a improbable cease towards Artem Dovbyk within the closing levels to ship Wales to the World Cup.
What does it imply? Wales finish lengthy, lengthy wait
Wales had missed 15 editions of the World Cup since final qualifying in 1958, however Web page’s aspect ended that lengthy wait in entrance of the house assist contained in the Cardiff Metropolis Stadium.
That 64-year hole between qualifying for worldwide soccer’s showpiece occasion surpassed the earlier 56-year file collectively held by Egypt (1934 – 1990) and Norway (1938 – 1994).
Web page will prepared his workforce to face rivals England, USA and Iran in a wide-open group in Qatar, whereas Ukraine faltered in a World Cup play-off for a fifth time.
Heroic Hennessey
Bale could take the plaudits for his ninth objective involvement (5 targets, 4 assists) of the World Cup qualifying marketing campaign in simply his seventh look.
However Hennessey was the rationale Wales will likely be enjoying within the World Cup, the goalkeeper making a exceptional 9 saves – along with his tip over towards Dovbyk the choose of his stops.
Andriy agony
Yarmolenko moved three behind Ukraine’s all-time prime scorer Andriy Shevchenko along with his forty fifth worldwide strike towards Scotland, however the captain faltered in Wales.
Whereas the 32-year-old could have been unlucky to deflect into his personal web, Yarmolenko additionally received simply three of his eight duels in a quiet show.
What’s subsequent?
Wales return to Nations League motion at house to Netherlands on Wednesday, when Ukraine open their marketing campaign in the identical competitors away to the Republic of Eire.
