Wales vs Austria LIVE: World Cup play-off result and reaction as Bale double has Wales one game from World Cup
Follow reaction from the Cardiff City Stadium as Wales move one win away from a first World Cup since 1958
Follow all the reaction as Gareth Bale’s brilliant double sees Wales beat Austria 2-1 in the World Cup play-off semi-finals to move just one victory away from Qatar 2022.
Wales will now face either Scotland or Ukraine in the play-off final for a place in Qatar, however, that match has been postponed due to Russia’s continued invasion of the latter. If Rob Page’s men win that, they will reach the World Cup for just the second time in their history and for the first occasion since 1958.
Wales are now unbeaten in eight matches and although there was pre-match doubt over the fitness of Bale - who has played just 77 minutes of competitive football since November - he stepped up to deliver for his country the way he has done so many times before.
He curled in an exquisite free-kick in the first half and made it 2-0 with a snap finish into the corner after the break. Marcel Sabitzer pulled one back for Austria when his shot cruelly deflected in off Ben Davies but Wales held on to move just 90 minutes away from fulfilling their dream.
Follow all the reaction and analysis as Wales beat Austria:
Wales 0 - 0 Austria
12 mins: Wales are unbeaten in their last three matches against Austria, winning 1-0 in the most recent meeting in September 2017 in a World Cup qualifier.
The opening burst of energy from both teams seems to have settled. Roberts swings a cross in from the right wing and James gets a glancing head to the ball. He can’t pick out a teammate and Austria clear their lines.
Wales 0 - 0 Austria
9 mins: It’s all end-to-end at the minute. Connor Roberts flicks the ball over to the left wing and Wales swing an early cross into the six-uard box. Aaron Ramsey is arriving at the far post and throws himself at the ball as it drops but can’t get a touch.
At the other end of the pitch. David Alaba comes inside from the left and slides a through ball into the box. Marko Arnautovic has made a run behind the line - he was offside - but the ball rolls safely through to Wayne Hennessey.
Wales 0 - 0 Austria
6 mins: OFF THE BAR! Absolutely massive chance for Austria to take the lead. The visitors pass the ball around the isolated Joe Allen in the middle of the pitch and get it up to Marcel Sabitzer. He threads a pass in between the Wales centre-backs as Christoph Baumgartner makes a run through the lines. He brings the ball into the box and looks for the top right-hand corner but fires his effort into the crossbar!
Wales 0 - 0 Austria
3 mins: Chance! Great pressing from Wales as Dan James and Aaron Ramsey push up the pitch and close down David Alaba. Ramsey comes away with the ball and slides it into the box for James. He shifts to the left and hits one at goal but sends it straight into the waiting hands of Heinz Lindner.
KICK-OFF: Wales 0-0 Austria
A huge night for Welsh football as Wales are just two wins away from their first World Cup since 1958.
Underway at Cardiff City Stadium - can they move one step closer by beating Austria?
Wales vs Austria
Wales qualified for the World Cup play-offs by finishing second in their group behind Belgium.
Austria earned a play-off spot after winning their Nations League group after finishing fourth behind Denmark, Scotland and Israel in the qualifying rounds.
Tonight’s play-off is a one-legged affair rather than the usual two-legged fixture so it could head into extra-time and or penalties this evening.
The winner of this game had been due to face the winner of Scotland against Ukraine on the 29th March but, due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, that game has been postponed until June with the play-off final set to follow later the same month.
Wales vs Austria
Gareth Bale has helped Wales qualify for back-to-back European Championships and took them to the semi-finals at Euro 2016 but he has never qualified for the World Cup.
At 32-years-old this could be Bale’s last chance to play in World Cup but he says he’ll have no regrets if tonight’s game doesn’t go Wales’ way.
"I wouldn't say it would be a regret if I didn't play in a World Cup as it's not really in my hands but it's something I would love to achieve for myself, my country, the fans of Wales," he said.
"It's been a long time. It will only be a regret if we don't give 100% and leave anything in the tank.
"Once you've done that there won't be regrets regardless of the result. Hopefully our best will be enough.
"Thinking about the future can cause doubts in your own mind, so I've not been thinking about that. I've just been focusing on this game coming up and whatever happens in the future I'll decide in future."
Wales vs Austria
Gareth Bale says his Wales team have to draw on past experiences if they want to reach the 2022 World Cup and should leave the pitch at the end of the game with ‘no regrets’. He said:
We have to give 100% and have no regrets. We can draw on past experiences that have hurt us but also the excitement of what potentially is ahead, so there is a lot to play for.
"You can look to anything to help inspire us and there will not be a lot that needs to be said, a game of this magnitude speaks for itself and we’ll be ready to go tomorrow."
Wales vs Austria: Starting line-up for Austria
Austria XI: Linder, Dragovic, Hinteregger, Alaba, Seiwald, Lainer, Baumgartner, Laimer, Schlager, Arnautovic, Sabitzer
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