Wales vs Belarus LIVE: World Cup qualifier result, final score and reaction tonight
Wales 5-1 Belarus: Aaron Ramsey’s double inspired a big win on Gareth Bale’s 100th cap
Wales moved clear in second place in World Cup qualifying Group E with a 5-1 home rout of Belarus on Saturday, as Gareth Bale earned his 100th cap for his country.
Aaron Ramsey scored twice for the hosts in Cardiff with Neco Williams, Ben Davies and Connor Roberts also on target as the Welsh boosted their hopes of finishing runners-up behind group winners Belgium who beat Estonia.
Wales are already guaranteed a place in the March playoffs to earn a place in next year’s Qatar finals having won their Nations League section. But finishing second in Group E could give them a better chance of a home draw.
Real Madrid’s Bale, Wales’s all-time top scorer, lasted only the first half of his 100th appearance before being withdrawn with a calf injury.
But by that stage Wales were already in command.
It took them only two minutes to go in front, as Ben Davies’s crisp volley was parried out by Belarus keeper Syarhey Chernik and Ramsey converted the rebound.
Williams doubled their lead in the 20th minute when he was played in by Bale and embarrassed Chernik with a near-post shot.
Ramsey coolly converted a penalty awarded for handball in the 50th minute to become only the sixth player to score at least 20 goals for Wales, and Davies then bundled in his first, on his 68th appearance for his country.
Artem Kontsevoi scored a late consolation for Belarus with a dipping shot, but Roberts completed the scoring as he touched in a Harry Wilson corner in the last minute.
Wales host Belgium in their final group game on Tuesday trailing the world number one nation by five points but with a three-point lead over third-placed Czech Republic.
A draw will be enough to seal the runners-up spot. The Czechs finish off against Estonia.
Wales 4 - 0 Belarus
85 mins: 10 years ago yesterday Gary Speed took charge of his last game as Wales boss before his death. As the clock tips over to 85 minutes, to signify Speed’s 85 international caps, the Red Wall stands and applauds one of their best ever players.
Wales 4 - 0 Belarus
83 mins: Tyler Roberts goes on a fine run down the left flank and cuts into the box before being hacked down by Belarus substitute Ebong. Wilson fires the resultant free kick towards the middle of the six-yard box and Davies gets a good chunk of the ball but this time Chetnik dives across to his left and keeps the ball out.
Wales 4 - 0 Belarus
80 mins: Can they get another one? They’re certainly trying. Joe Allen blasts one from outside the box and sees his effort blocked by Yudenkov who takes the full force of the strike square in the face.
After a quick breather to check on the Belarussian defender, Wales recover possession and look to build another attack.
GOAL! Wales 4 - 0 Belarus (Davies, 77’)⚽️
77 mins: That’ll do nicely! Wales win a corner and take the chance to bring Tyler Roberts on for Dan James. Harry Wilson swings the set piece into the middle of the box. Naumov and Yudenkov both fail to deal with the cross and it drops for Ben Davies. He doesn’t quite gets his head to the ball but it bounces off his shoulder and finishes in the far bottom corner. It’s Davies’ first goal for Wales so he won’t care in the slightest!
Wales 3 - 0 Belarus
74 mins: Belarus win a corner and swing it quickly into the box trying to catch Wales off guard. The ball drops to Yudenkov who’s scuffs his effort at goal but almost gets lucky as the ball comes over to Yablonski at the back post. He tries to fancily backheel the ball into the back of the net but gets it all wrong and only manages to guide it wide of the target.
Wales 3 - 0 Belarus
71 mins: Aaron Ramsey’s great night is over. He leaves the pitch to a standing ovation as Rob Page replaces him with Joe Morrell. Morrell is one of the players circling a potential suspension and will need to avoid a yellow card if he wants to play against Beligum during the week.
Wales 3 - 0 Belarus
68 mins: Wales are getting closer to another goal. Johnson slides a lovely pass into the box for James who’s tackled at the last minute allowing Belarus to comes away with the ball. It’s played up to Lisakovich but he loses possession to an aggressive Williams who drives the ball back down the left wing. He cuts inside and curls a lovely effort just over the far top corner!
Wales 3 - 0 Belarus
65 mins: Nearly! Brennan Johnson receives the ball in the middle of the pitch and flies up to the box. His final touch takes the ball away from him though and Selyava recovers the ball for the visitors. Dan James is up the pitch quickly and nicks the ball in the opponent’s area. He tries to shoot but is seemingly clipped by Selyava and goes down in the box. Wales want another peanlty but the referee points to the corner flag instead.
Wales 3 - 0 Belarus
62 mins: Chance! Big, big chance for Roberts to score for Wales. Ben Davies brings the ball into Belarus’ half before sliding is out to Williams on the left wing. He drives into the box, running at the right-back, before squaring the ball to the edge of the six-yard area where Roberts arrives and turns his effort wide of the near post!
Wales 3 - 0 Belarus
59 mins: A goal kick from Belarus sees the ball come up towards Klimovich. Ethan Ampadu jumps over the Belarussian forward and leads with his arms, elbowing Klimovich in the chin and knocking him down. The referee pulls out a yellow card and that means Ampadu will miss the Belgium game through a suspension.
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