Wales 5-1 Belarus: Aaron Ramsey scores twice as Gareth Bale wins 100th cap

Wales marked Gareth Bale’s one hundredth cap with a thumping victory over Belarus to maneuver as much as second place of their World Cup qualifying group.

With Bale taken off at half-time as he made his first look after two months out injured, Ramsey prolonged the hosts’ lead with a second-half penalty.

Ben Davies scored his first worldwide aim as his tried header went in off his shoulder and, after Artem Kontsevoi whipped in an excellent 20-yard strike for Belarus, Connor Roberts flicked in from a free-kick for Wales’ fifth.

Wales are actually second in Group E, three factors forward of the third-place Czech Republic, who will probably be anticipated to beat Estonia on Tuesday.

Nonetheless, notional Welsh hopes of qualifying robotically are formally over after Belgium beat Estonia to win the group.

Wales are already assured a play-off place having gained their Nations League group final yr however, to have any likelihood of a house draw, they have to end second of their World Cup qualifying group.

Robert Web page’s males can safe second spot on Tuesday with a draw at residence to Belgium. That will probably be tough, although Wales can take coronary heart from the actual fact they’ve gained two of their previous three matches in opposition to the world’s quantity one-ranked aspect.

And in Bale they are going to have a figurehead who performed an important function in a kind of victories, scoring the successful aim in a European Championship qualifier when Belgium have been final in Cardiff.

Wales rejoice Bale’s hundred in type

Bale’s milestone gave this recreation a way of significance that will ordinarily have been missing for the go to of a staff of Belarus’ standing.

This was a celebration of Wales’ biggest footballer, a nationwide hero who has taken his nation to new heights over the course of a stellar 16-year profession.

True to his obsessive professionalism, Bale had performed down the fanfare within the build-up to the match. Solely after the sport would he think about reflecting on his achievement; victory in opposition to Belarus was his sole focus.

His want was his team-mates’ command, with Wales racing into an early result in delight an already jubilant Cardiff Metropolis Stadium crowd.

After Belarus did not correctly clear a nook, Davies hit a candy volley virtually straight Chernik, who spilled the ball into Ramsey’s path for a tap-in.

There was worse to return from the Belarus keeper as he palmed Williams’ low shot into the online.

With a 2-0 lead and Belarus providing little risk, Bale was taken off at half-time as a precaution with the Actual Madrid ahead enjoying for the primary time since tearing his hamstring in September.

Consequently, he handed the captain’s armband and penalty-taking duties to Ramsey, who punished Ruslan Yudenkov’s handball by sending Chernik the flawed means from the spot.

Davies was the following to attain with a reasonably scruffy effort off his shoulder from Harry Wilson’s nook and, though Kontsevoi’s rocket gave Belarus a late purpose to cheer, Wales had the ultimate say as Roberts deftly volleyed in on the close to put up from a free-kick.

Wales on the right track for second place

Whereas the security web of a assured play-off place had alleviated the strain on Wales, they have been decided to do all they might to enhance their probabilities of a house attract March.

With the play-off semi-finals and finals performed over one leg, Web page and his gamers would reasonably keep away from an away recreation in opposition to groups resembling Switzerland and Serbia, who’re amongst these in a powerful place to safe the seeding required for residence benefit.

Beating Belarus was crucial and, having been held to a irritating residence goalless draw by Estonia in September, Wales have been determined to keep away from one other anxious night.

Their scientific efficiency made certain of that, scoring greater than 4 objectives in a recreation for the primary time since their 6-0 thrashing of China in March 2018, when Bale’s hat-trick made him Wales’ all-time main goalscorer.

The successful margin in opposition to Belarus can be useful. If Wales and the Czech Republic finish on the identical quantity of factors, second place will go to the staff with the perfect aim distinction or, failing that, the staff with most objectives scored. Wales presently have a aim distinction two higher than the Czechs, having scored one aim extra in whole.

Wales will hope that they won’t must depend on such standards. Their future is in their very own arms: safe a minimum of a draw in opposition to Belgium on Tuesday and second place is theirs.