WALES are on the brink of qualification to the last-16 of Euro 2020 thanks to their 2-0 win over Turkey in Baku.
Aaron Ramsey’s first-half goal and Connor Roberts late tap-in was enough to secure three points but Gareth Bale missed a second half penalty for Robert Page’s side.
- RESULT: Turkey 0 Wales 2
- Turkey XI: Cakir; Celik, Ayhan, Soyuncu, Meras; Yokuslu; Under, Karaman, Tufan, Calhanoglu; Yilmaz
- Wales XI: Ward; C. Roberts, Mepham, Rodon, B. Davies; Allen, Morrell; Bale, Ramsey, James; Moore
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AND ON THAT NOTE
It’s time to say goodbye!
The Euros action doesn’t stop here on SunSport, though.
Italy are welcoming Switzerland to the Stadio Olimpico, Rome – and Wales will be watching on keenly.
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Have a good one.
Credit: GETTY IMAGES Credit: GETTY IMAGES RAMBO SPEAKS
Juventus midfielder Ramsey admits that he was relieved to score after missing two big chances beforehand.
Speaking to the BBC, he said: “I felt a bit of relief, I had two chances before to score but that first half today was superb, we really dominated.
“Second half we showed great character and I think we thoroughly deserved the win.
“The penalty was a big moment but we didn’t panic, we didn’t leave anything out there, and we worked hard from each other.
“We’ve given ourselves a brilliant opportunity now, we’ve got another big game to go, we are in a good position now.
“I’ve got a few [Juventus] team mates playing for Italy so it will be nice for me out there, but I’m representing my country now and we will do everything to win that game.”
HERO ROBERTS
Goal hero Roberts was buzzing after scoring the goal that sealed the win.
Speaking to the BBC, he said: “That’s the best moment of my career that will probably never be matched.
“To be playing in a major competition is the pinnacle for me, and to almost seal us through to the next stage is incredible.
“Today is a massive step towards that, we have a massive game on Sunday, but it has done us no harm winning today.
“They [Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale] are world class players, we know what we expect from them, Gareth said he was sorry for missing the penalty but without them I don’t think we win tonight.
“We are a young group but we have resilience, people who will run until the last minute and we did that tonight.
“Chris Mepham had told me not to go forward for that corner! But that’s just what I do, it’s an incredible feeling.”
BALE SPEAKS
Welsh captain Bale spoke to the BBC after the game: “I’m absolutely delighted with the win, we fought hard, worked our socks off, yes I missed a penalty but I feel I showed good character to keep going.
“That second goal at the end was the icing on the cake.
“Aaron [Ramsey] got in a few times, we’ve always linked up well, it was important to get the victory today.
“You’d like to think that [four points] would be enough, we will have to wait and see, if you’d offered us four points at the start we would have bitten your hand off.
“Playing in front of no fans is difficult, the fans were fantastic, I know most were Turkish but the Welsh fans were great too. It helped get your adrenaline going.
“We want to thank the fans at home too who I’m sure will be cheering in their millions.”
BALE’S MAGIC
Scenes.
RELIVE THE SECOND HALF THROUGH PICTURES
What a second half.
Things got heated inside Wales’ penalty area, and it all started from YilmazCredit: GETTY IMAGES Roberts sealed the win in the 95th minuteCredit: GETTY IMAGES Bale, despite the penalty miss, was a magician at workCredit: GETTY IMAGES What a moment for the travelling fansCredit: GETTY IMAGES FULL-TIME STATS
Incredible performance by Rob Page’s team.
HAVE YOUR SAY
FT: TURKEY 0-2 WALES
WOW!
Wales have done it again. They’re pretty much into the knockout stages of the Euros.
Every man played their part. The defence, in particular, deserve a lot of praise.
They were rock solid and put their bodies on the line to get the result.
But it was Bale’s brilliance in attack which played a major role in the win. Leading by example.
He set up Ramsey’s goal in the first half.
And in the 95th minute he wasn’t quite done with Turkey. He received the ball short from a corner and dribbled away from a couple of Turkish players close to the byline – before squaring it to Roberts.
And the defender planted the ball into the back of the net to seal the win.
Turkey dark horses? You’re having a laugh. They’ll need more than a miracle to make it through to the knockout stages.
They have minus-five goal difference and they have zero points on the board.
The lowest Wales can finish is third, but they have four points on the board and favourable goal difference.
Portugal – 2016 winners – didn’t win a group game but went through as one of the best third-placed teams on three points.
Wales can finish third and comfortably go through, without a doubt.
PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
THE FULL-TIME WHISTLE GOES IN BAKU!
WALES HAVE DONE IT!
THEY HAVE ONE FOOT IN THE KNOCKOUT STAGES!
TURKEY 0-2 WALES
90+5. Bale receives the ball short from a corner and dribbles away from a couple of Turkish players close to the byline.
The Welsh superstar squares the ball and Roberts places the ball into the back of the net!
Fans are in tears….. the scenes!
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAALLLLL!!!!!
ROBERTS FINISHES THE GAME OFF!!!!!!!!
MORE BRILLIANCE FROM BALE!!!!!!
TURKEY 0-1 WALES
90+3. SUBSTITUTION!
James’ night comes to an end and he is replaced by Neco Williams.
Wales have a corner….. keep the ball in the corner!
TURKEY 0-1 WALES
90+2. Looking at the replay, Yilmaz hand a little kick out at a Welsh player on the floor – sparking the altercation.
TURKEY 0-1 WALES
90+1. YELLOW CARDS!
Davies, Rodon and Mepham are booked for Wales, and Turkish captain Yilmaz is booked alongside Calhanoglu.
TURKEY 0-1 WALES
90. IT’S ALL KICKING OFF INSIDE THE WELSH PENALTY AREA!
YILMAZ HAS REACTED BADLY TO A DECISION!
WILL WE SEE SOME CARDS?!
RODON AND DAVIES GET INVOLVED, THERE’S A LOT OF PUSHING AND SHOVING!
TURKEY 0-1 WALES
88. James gets away from his marker close to the touchline and he has lots of green grass to run into.
Wales have Turkey outnumbered.
He gets to the edge of Turkey’s penalty area and tries to square the ball to Wilson, but he puts too much power on the pass.
TURKEY 0-1 WALES
87. WHAT A SAVE!
Turkey win another corner and Calhanoglu goes across to take once again.
The creative midfielder delivers a wonderful cross into Wales’ penalty area.
Demiral gets up well and sends a powerful header towards the bottom-right corner but Ward saves!
TURKEY 0-1 WALES
86. Moore does some fine centre-forward work as he uses his body to shield the ball and bring his team-mates into the game.
He goes to ground and wins Wales a free-kick, slowing the pace of the game down.
Wales are four minutes plus stoppage time away from the knockout stages.
Credit: GETTY IMAGES TURKEY 0-1 WALES
84. SUBSTITUTION!
Ramsey – who’s goal may possibly be the winner – is replaced by Liverpool’s Wilson in midfield.
TURKEY 0-1 WALES
82. SUBSTITUTION!
Fenerbahce’s Kahveci is coming on for the final ten minutes or so and he is replacing Under, who has had a quiet night.
Not long left to salvage a point or three.
TURKEY 0-1 WALES
80. Calhanoglu lets the ball do the work and run across him, before trying to thread the ball through Wales’ defence to Yilmaz.
But Rodon puts in a crucial block.
TURKEY 0-1 WALES
77. CHANCE!
Wales are 13 crucial minutes away from the knockout stages of the European Championships.
Ramsey clips the ball towards the far post looking to find his captain Bale.
Bale gets up really well and sends his header bouncing into the ground, but Cakir saves!
TURKEY 0-1 WALES
75. Calhanoglu delivers a good corner into Wales’ penalty area; Yilmaz tries to meet it with a diving header but spectacularly misses.
Credit: GETTY IMAGES TURKEY 0-1 WALES
73. SUBSTITUTIONS!
Meras is taken off and he is replaced by Sassuolo’s Muldur. Karaman is also replaced by Dervisoglu.
And for Wales, Allen’s quiet night comes to an end and he is replaced by Chelsea’s Ampadu.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
