Wales vs Ukraine LIVE: World Cup play-off final result as Welsh book spot at Qatar 2022
Wales earned their place at a World Cup for the first time since 1958
Wales ended their 64-year wait for a place in the World Cup finals as they beat Ukraine 1-0 on Sunday to end the war-torn nation’s hopes of reaching Qatar.
An own goal from Ukraine winger Andriy Yarmolenko, who headed a Gareth Bale free-kick into his own net, decided the contest.
Despite the loud and passionate atmosphere, Ukraine were on top from the outset and Wales keeper Wayne Hennessey was busy in the opening half making three vital saves to keep the score level.
It was against the run of play then when Wales grabbed the lead in the 34th minute, Bale fired a low free-kick from 25 metres out and Yarmolenko’s stooping, attempted header clear, flew into the net past the helpless Georgiy Bushchan.
Aaron Ramsey missed a great chance to double Wales’ lead after the break, side-footing wide from a great position and then Neco Williams drilled a well-struck shot against the post.
But Wales, who last appeared in the World Cup finals in 1958. had Henessey to thank again as he pulled off a fine one-handed save from substitute Artem Dovbyk’s powerful header, six minutes from the end.
Wales 0-0 Ukraine
32 min: Mykolenko is booked and that could make things tricky for him up against Bale for the rest of the evening – though saying that, we’ve barely seen the Welsh camptain in this game so far.
Wales 0-0 Ukraine
30 min: Yaremchuk flicks the ball cleverly into the path of Tsygankov running into the box, but Hennessey reacts quickly to come out and smother the ball before the forward can finish off the move. The goalkeeper has been crucial to Wales’ clean sheet so far.
Wales 0-0 Ukraine
28 min: More Ukraine chances, first for Tsygankov who is through on goal and fires wide of the far post, before Zinchenko brings another save from Hennessey. Yarmolenko is starting to get into the game, too.
Wales 0-0 Ukraine
23 min: Ramsey shows his quality with a perfect cross from the right side through the six-yard box, but Moore and Bale don’t quite anticipate the delivery and it whistles through to the opposite side untouched.
Wales 0-0 Ukraine
21 min: Bale’s first effort of the game is an ambitious long-range shot which rises too high. Ukraine probe at the other end and Davies makes an important block to take the sting out of the final shot in the box.
Wales 0-0 Ukraine
17 min: The corner is taken short but it’s a bit sloppy from Rodon in the centre, who was lingering in an offside position. Wales come again down the left where Neco Williams is becoming a good out-ball at left wing-back, though on this ocassion the pass is too long for the Liverpool defender.
Wales 0-0 Ukraine
15 min: A quick counter by Wales down the left earns them a corner after James’ cross is blocked.
Wales 0-0 Ukraine
11 min: Good from Ukraine, this. They have some good control in midfield, and when Wales do pinch it back they are struggling to find an outlet.
Hennessey is forced into another early save and then Rodon is caught on the ball under pressure by Zinchenko, but just about gets away with it. Wales need a few minutes of calm passing because the high tempo isn’t suiting them.
Wales 0-0 Ukraine
8 min: A couple of corners come into the Wales box but are well defended. This is a high-paced and attacking opening period in a raucous atmosphere, so it will be interesting to see how the game settles down, if and when it does.
Wales 0-0 Ukraine
7 min: Neco Williams with a good dart inside from the left into a shooting position, but he fires wide of the near post. A bright few minutes by the Welsh after a shaky start, but a moment later Tsygankov gets in a similar position at the other end and forces a low stop from Hennessey. Corner to Ukraine.
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