Iceland vs Wales LIVE: Nations League result and reaction as Craig Bellamy’s men hang on for draw
Iceland 2-2 Wales: Craig Bellamy continues his unbeaten run as Wales boss
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Iceland secured a comeback draw against Wales in the Nations League in a match of two halves played out in the cold conditions of Reykjavik.
Wales started the game as the more aggressive and competant side. They were free flowing and in control of the ball in the midfield areas. This dominance resulted in two eerily similar goals. Neco Williams with a long ball over the top, Harry Wilson with a run from deep in behind the defence.
Wilson’s first effort was cleared off the line by Hakon Rafn Valdimarsson only for Brennan Johnson to tap in the rebound. The second effort was coolly dispatched by the midfielder meaning the Dragons led 2-0 at half-time.
But they never got going again. Substitutions and an intense press from Iceland saw them turn the game around. The hosts were unafraid to shoot from even half-decent positions and Logi Tomasson netted twice to draw level. From there Wales were clinging on and managed to keep out the hosts to earn themselves a good point.
Relive the Nations League action with our live blog below:
HT Iceland 0-2 Wales
Iceland have won only one of their previous seven meetings with Wales (one draw, five defeats), a 1-0 home win in 1984 in a World Cup qualifier.
Wales have won their last four games against Iceland, most recently 3-1 in a 2014 friendly. They have previously only won five successive matches against two opponents: Luxembourg (six between 1974 and 2010) and Azerbaijan (five between 2005 and 2019).
HT Iceland 0-2 Wales
It’s been a fantasic first half for Wales. Can they add more goals in the second 45 minutes:
Half-time! Iceland 0-2 Wales
45+1 mins: The whistle goes to end the first half in Reykjavik with Wales two goals to the good against their hosts. Iceland have been undone by two long balls and runs from deep by Harry Wilson.
So far it’s been a great outing from the Welsh. Can they finish it off in the next half?
Iceland 0-2 Wales
42 mins: Connor Roberts joins Brennan Johnson in the book after a tackle. Craig Bellamy is furious about it but only momentarily as the fourth official gives an explanation for the card.
Half-time is quickly approaching.
Iceland 0-2 Wales
39 mins: Wales have just started to lose a bit of control on this game as Iceland attempt to get themselves back in contention. Gudmundsson takes another shot which gets blocked on the edge of the box.
Iceland 0-2 Wales
36 mins: Gudmundsson comes close for Iceland by taking a direct free kick. He goes for goal, strikes the effort well and makes Danny Ward work.
The goalkeeper leaps to the left but the shot is always curling over the top.
Iceland 0-2 Wales
33 mins: Yellow card!
Brennan Johnson is booked for a shove on Thorsteinsson after being provoked by the Iceland winger. The yellow card means that Johnson will miss Wales’ next match.
Iceland 0-2 Wales
32 mins: Craig Bellamy is beeming on the sidelines. Two goals to the good and very solid at the back...
... nevermind.
Andri Gudjohnsen meets a cutback and shoots. The ball is tracking towards the goal but Neco Williams scrambles back to clear the ball off the line!
GOAL! Iceland 0-2 Wales (Harry Wilson, 29’)
It’s almost a carbon copy of the first goal!
Neco Williams with the pass over the top, Harry Wilson with the run from deep. He gets in behind the fullback, takes the ball into the box then slots it past the goalkeeper.
Iceland 0-1 Wales
29 mins: Wales break through Neco Williams who looks sharp. He drifts into the midfield the gets clattered by Stefan Teitur Thordarson.
He collects a yellow card and will miss the next match for Iceland. Williams is lucky to bounce back from that challenge. It was a cruncher.
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