Armenia v Wales LIVE: Result and reaction from crucial Euro 2024 qualifier as Wales suffer huge blow with draw
Armenia 1-1 Wales: Euro 2024 qualification is taken out of Wales’s hands as they fail to find a winner in Yerevan
Wales suffered a huge blow in their penultimate Euro 2024 qualifier against Armenia, as a 1-1 draw in Yerevan took automatic qualification for the tournament out of their hands.
Rob Page’s side remain in the second automatic qualifying spot in Group D but will be leapfrogged by Croatia if they beat Latvia later this evening and if the Croats then do likewise against the Armenian on Tuesday they won’t be able to be caught by Wales, regardless of the result against Turkey in Cardiff at the same time.
Wales fell behind after just five minutes in Yerevan when they failed to clear a corner and Lucas Zelarayan brilliantly fired past Danny Ward but the visitors steadily gained a foothold and deservedly equalised in first-half injury time when Nair Tiknizyan headed into his own goal under pressure from Joe Rodon at a corner.
Yet the Dragons couldn’t find a winner in the second half and were fortunate not to lose the match as Vahan Bichakhchyan struck the underside of the bar and Ward made a couple of important saves with Armenia looking the side more likely to score. The dropped points now likely consign Wales to a play-off if they want to reach a third straight men’s European Championship finals.
Relive all the action with our live blog below:
SAVE! Armenia 1-0 Wales
37 mins: Having said that, Wales immediately create a great chance!
Stunning ball from Jordan James out to David Brooks on the left, he feeds Neco Williams, laid back for Harry Wilson who strikes it beautifully but Cancarevic dives to his left and tips it wide. Great save!
The corner comes to nothing as the ref blows for a foul but a superb move by Wales and a cracking save.
Armenia 1-0 Wales
36 mins: Wales have good attacking options on the bench with the likes of Brennan Johnson and Dan James available. They may be needed in the second half because while Wales are now controlling possession, they’re not creating anything of note.
Kieffer Moore looking isolated up top.
Armenia 1-0 Wales
32 mins: The physicality is starting to ramp up. Ampadu and Mepham pinged for fouls back to back. Ampadu for a sliding tackle and Mepham for barrelling into goalscorer Zelarayan.
And Mepham is yellow carded. That looked harsh - free-kick yes but not sure it’s a booking. It means Mepham will be suspended for the crunch game against Turkey on Tuesday - a big blow. Luton’s Tom Lockyer to come into central defence for that one?
Armenia 1-0 Wales
29 mins: Some sloppy passing from Wales during their build-up play is costing them at the moment. The midfield duo of Ampadu and James are seeing passes going astray.
They’ve largely quietened Armenia in attack since the early goal though.
Armenia 1-0 Wales
25 mins: It has been a generally decent response by Wales since falling behind, which makes the early goal all the more frustrating. Moore is the focal point and outlet ball up front. He’s taking a bit of a battering from Haroyan and the other Armenia defenders.
Armenia are playing some nice stuff though. They’ve never lost to Wales in three matches between the sides, remember.
CLOSE! Armenia 1-0 Wales
20 mins: Bichakhchyan strides forward with the ball and isn’t closed down by a Welsh shirt. Once he’s 25 yards out he takes a dig and it’s just wide of a sprawling Ward’s post.
Then at the other end, a cross comes in from the left and Moore rises highest but his header is well off target, wide of the right-hand post.
Armenia 1-0 Wales
15 mins: Better again. Moore chases the ball into the channel and pinches off a dithering Armenia defender. Williams in in support and wins a corner as his shot is deflected wide.
Another good corner not properly cleared and Brooks tries to get the ball out of his feet but the dark red swarm stop him getting a shot away.
Moore has taken a blow to the face and needs a bit of a clean-up operation to clear the blood
Armenia 1-0 Wales
14 mins: Neco Williams takes on Dashyan down the left and is clumsily brought down for a free-kick. Wilson curls it into a dangerous area but Armenia head it away.
Brooks takes the ball to the by-line and clips it back across the area but Armenia again hold firm. Better from Wales though
WATCH: Armenia take the lead
Here’s the moment Armenia took an early lead in Yerevan.
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