WHO writes the scripts for Gareth Bale?
The Wales superstar headed off to Hollywood in the summer to get some game time with LAFC.
And somehow you just knew he would somehow take the starring role as his beloved Dragons returned to the big stage after 64 years away.
Time and time again Bale has been the man for the big occasion for both club and – in particular – country over the years.
Sure enough, just when they needed him, he answered the call by winning a penalty eight minutes from time.
He then picked himself up and lashed home from the spot to keep the dream of reaching the knock-out stage very much alive for Rob Page’s men.
READ MORE ON WORLD CUP
What a moment it was for Bale – the man who dragged them to the first finals since 1958 almost single handedly.
And it was timely because for so long it had looked as though Wales were about to fluff their lines on their special night.
Maybe there were some pre match nerves – or perhaps they decided a draw was a good result after England’s demolition of Iran hours earlier.
A common view was that coach Rob Page picked the wrong team – as he opted to leave giant striker Kieffer Moore on the bench.
Most read in Football
HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON THE WORLD CUP
Whatever the reason, Wales dream return to the World Cup for the first time since 1958 was in danger of turning into a nightmare.
The Red Wall did their bit by producing a stirring national anthem ahead of kick off.
But their heroes looked jittery right from the word go and could not get a handle on a US team that seemed to have more energy.
Moore has scored some crucial goals for the Dragons over the last few years so the decision not to start with him was a surprise.
Page was concerned about his team getting over-run in the middle of the park so opted to go with Harry Wilson instead.
Yet it did not work as he hoped and nothing was sticking with Gareth Bale when his team tried to attack.
The only surprise was it took Gregg Berhalter’s men 35 minutes to open the scoring.
Only a superb reflex save by Wayne Hennessey to somehow keep out a header from his own defender Joe Rodon kept the Dragons on terms.
Josh Sargent then planted a header against the outside of the post as the US continued to pose questions.
Wales were too deep and without Moore there was no outlet. When they did get a sight of goal Ethan Ampadu blazed his effort over the bar.
The Dragons backline were overworked and it was no surprise when they went behind 10 minutes before the break.
Christian Pulisic opened up the defence with a low through ball which Timothy Weah – son of legend George – ran onto before beating Hennessey emphatically.
The last two goals Wales have conceded in the World Cup came from Pele and Weah – albeit 64 years apart.
Bale’s big night against the country which has been his home for the last six months was not going to plan.
The LAFC star let his frustration get the better of him as he slid into a tackle on Yunus Musah and got a yellow card.
A rethink was needed at half-time if Wales were to get anything out of this and it was Moore who was brought on in place of Dan James at the break.
The 6ft 5in former lifeguard rescued his country from a similar situation in the opening game of the Euros against Switzerland last summer – and they needed something from him again.
His arrival seemed to lift his team-mates and the fans as they enjoyed their best spell of the match – although that wasn’t saying much.
They showed more ambition with Fulham’s Tim Ream getting a yellow card for pulling back Bale as he tried to get a sight of goal.
That occasionally left gaps at the other end and a superbly timed tackle by Chris Mepham nicked the ball off Pulisic as he tried to run onto Weah’s cross.
But Wales were in the ascendancy and an acrobatic save from Arsenal reserve goalie Matt Turner kept out a header from Tottenham’s Ben Davies.
From the resulting corner, Moore got up highest but nodded his effort onto the roof of the net when he looked a certain scorer.
The former Cardiff man had certainly made an impact since coming off the bench and you could not escape the feeling he should have been on from the start.
Yet it was Bale – as ever – who came to the rescue when they needed him most.
Aaron Ramsey found some space on the right and pulled back for Bale who was upended by Walker Zimmerman for an obvious penalty.
The skipper took responsibility – as he always does – and thumped an unstoppable pen which almost ripped the net off.
Read More on The Sun
More than six and a half decades of frustration at missing out were forgotten as the players and their fans celebrated wildly.
Nobody would deny Wales and their inspirational skipper their special moment.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
