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Real Madrid’s Bale, Wales’s all-time top scorer, lasted only the first half of his 100th appearance before being withdrawn with a calf injury.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 2 - 0 Belarus
38 mins: Almost! Dan James makes a run through the middle of the pitch as Ampadu flicks the ball up the him. James looks to be just onside and he bursts through the lines but the bounce of the ball isn’t kind and it skips safely through to Chetnik in Belarus’ goal.
Wales 2 - 0 Belarus
35 mins: It hasn’t been a perfect performance from Wales despite the scoreline. They’ve been a little wayward with a few of their passes and have given the ball away cheaply at times.
Ampadu looks to play James in behind but slices his pass out of play.
Wales 2 - 0 Belarus
32 mins: Davies nudges Klimovich in the back and gives away a free kick just inside Wales’ half but then rectifies his mistake by winning the aerial ball as the free kick is played quickly down the right wing. He knocks it back Rodon who sends the ball up the pitch to clear his lines.
Wales 2 - 0 Belarus
29 mins: Chance! Wales break on the counter-attack with Bale sending James flying into the box. James can’t find a pass for Wilson and is forced to knock the ball back to Williams. Williams has a few options in the box and decides to float a cross to the back post where Roberts arrives and heads the ball over the crossbar.
Wales 2 - 0 Belarus
26 mins: Nikolai Zolotov is shown the first yellow card of the match as he leaps into a late challenge on Ben Davies. The Belarussian defender arrives late and almost shoulders Davies in the chin with his attempted challenged. Davies seems a little shaken but he’s fine to continue.
Wales 2 - 0 Belarus
23 mins: That could be a crucial goal for Wales. It means they’ve drawn level with Czech Republic on goal difference and would finish second in the group if both sides finish the qualifiers on the same amount of points.
With such a good start to tonight’s match though Wales will be confident of getting at least another one as well.
GOAL! Wales 2 - 0 Belarus (Williams, 20’)⚽️
20 mins: Wales are in wonderland now! The home side are cramped for room over on the right wing but a fine pass from Allen sends the ball into Bale in the middle of the pitch. He carries it forward before sending it to Williams out wide on the opposite flank. Williams dribbles into the area before quickly shifting the ball to the right and taking a snapshot. Chetnik seems a little confused by the move and reacts late with a dive to his right but can’t stop the ball before it crosses the line!
Wales 1 - 0 Belarus
19 mins: A foul from Allen gives Belarus a free kick in Wales’ final third. Lisakovich is the man to take the set piece and he swings it over to the back post. Pechenin sneaks in behind Wales’ high defensive line and wins the header but his effort at goal is wide and ends up in the side netting.
Wales 1 - 0 Belarus
16 mins: A lovely diagonal ball from Ramsey picks out Neco Williams on the left wing. He weaves into the box with the ball and lays it off to Wilson. Wilson checks left and is tackled. He goes down and wants a penalty but the referee plays on. Williams tries to recover the ball but Belarus work it over to their own left wing and win a throw in.
Wales 1 - 0 Belarus
14 mins: Chance! Gareth Bale wins a throw in deep in Belarus’s half. He takes it quickly and launches the ball into the box. Ramsey’s made a decent run but the ball bounces over him and drops kindly for Connor Roberts arriving in the right side of the area. He takes a shot on the half-volley but doesn’t catch it well and the effort skews wide of the back post.
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