GARETH BALE rescued a point for Wales against the USA in Group B.
Timothy Weah put the USA ahead after 35 minutes, getting onto a Christian Pulisic pass to put his side into the lead.
However, an improved second-half saw Wales fight their way back into the game and Bale won the penalty before converting himself to give his side a point.
- Kick-off: 7pm UK time
- TV channel: ITV 1/ S4C
- Live stream: ITV Hub
- USA XI: Turner, Dest, Zimmerman, Adams, Robinson, Musah, McKennie, Pulisic, Ream, Weah, Sargent
- Wales XI: Hennessey; Mepham, Rodon, B Davies; Roberts, Ampadu, Ramsey, Wilson, N Williams; James, Bale
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Cometh the hour, cometh the man.
Gareth Bale never lets his country down and he popped up with the big moment for them again tonight.
He was a peripheral figure for most of the match but was involved when it mattered.
Having won the penalty, he emphatically converted his spot kick to send the Red Wall behind the goal into raptures.
Bale’s goal secured a point that had seemed unlikely at the halfway stage.
The USA were comfortably the better side during the first 45 and perhaps should have been more than one goal ahead at the break.
Tim Weah’s 36th minute strike ensured that he now holds a record that his famous father, George, does not – scoring a goal at the World Cup finals.
While both sides will not be too disappointed with the point tonight, it does raise the pressure ahead of their fixtures against a beatable-looking Iran team who were obliterated by England earlier this afternoon.
Whoever progresses from group B will surely need to take all 3 points from that game.
Up next for the USA is the match against group leaders England where a win for Gareth Southgate’s team would likely see them progress to the knockout rounds.
Wales, meanwhile, face Iran in a must-win game for Rob Page’s side.
Until then, all that is left for me to say is thank you for joining me and I’ll speak to you next time!
Suspicious attendance figures
The FIFA website has the official attendance for tonight’s game at 43,418.
The Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium has a listed capacity of 40,000.
Try and work that one out.
Group B
The draw makes the Iran game a particularly important one for both Wales and the USA.
Four points could be enough to secure safe passage into the knockout rounds so a win in that fixture might prove pivotal.
Bale quotes
The main man was pleased with how Wales turned things around at half time.
Not a good first half to be honest. We changed a few things around and came out fighting in the second half, as we always do.
Gareth Bale
Game of two halves
The US deservedly went into the half time break ahead after they dominated the first 45.
But Rob Page didn’t hesitate to change things when he saw his plan wasn’t working and quickly introduced Kieffer Moore.
Moore’s introduction gave Wales an out ball and they grew into the game and were good value for a point in the end.
Inside the stadium
SunSport’s Martin Lipton in Qatar:
He says: “As soon as the final whistle went, the American fans got out of their seats and headed for home.
As soon as the final whistle went, the Welsh fans stood and cheered, chanting “Wales! Wales! Wales!”
It looked pretty nasty at the break. All different now.
They’re still here, definitely.
Iran up next. Win that, and if England beat America, a draw will do nicely for both of them.
Collusion? Between England and Wales? Surely not?”
Talismanic Bale
It’s always him.
Gareth Bale produced another memorable moment for his country this evening as he scored Wales’ first World Cup goal since 1958.
He may not have been heavily involved in all facets of the game but he has popped up again when it mattered.
Inside the stadium
SunSport’s Martin Lipton in Qatar:
He says: “And now it’s “Men of Harlech”.
They sang that, famously, at Rorke’s Drift – some of you will have seen “Zulu Dawn”, with Michael Caine and Stanley Baker.
It’s not been that sort of defensive stand, certainly not in the second half.
It finishes 1-1 and I suspect the USA will think it’s a point dropped.
But Wales will be wondering what it might have been like if they’d played with this intensity – and shape – in the first half.
Full Time: USA 1 – 1 Wales
90+9, Peep! Peep! Peeeeeeeep! The referee brings this game to a close.
Wales and the USA share the points.
Stay with us for all the post-match reaction.
USA 1 – 1 Wales
90+8, It looked like it was set up for Bale to score from the halfway line!
Turner came off his line to beat Moore to the ball after Ben Davies long pass upfield.
Turner’s header fell for Bale on the halfway line but he was cynically brought down just as he tried to score an audacious goal.
That would’ve been a crazy finish.
USA 1 – 1 Wales
90+7, Gareth Bale tries to work an angle for the shot on the edge of the USMNT’s penalty area but he’s dispossessed just as he lines up to shoot.
USA 1 – 1 Wales
90+5, Ethan Ampadu is replaced by Joe Morrell for the remaining minutes.
USA 1 – 1 Wales
90+4, Connor Roberts sends a cross in towards Bale but Zimmmerman just beats him to it.
Five minutes to go here.
USA 1 – 1 Wales
90+3, Harry Wilson is being replaced by Sorba Thomas.
The Wales midfielder was limping as he made his way off the pitch but it seems as though it’s just cramp.
Inside the stadium
SunSport’s Martin Lipton in Qatar:
He says: “Now we’re hearing “Yma o hyd” – which means “We’re still here” – from the Welsh fans.
Would they take the point?
Probably.
But the momentum has certainly, unsurprisingly, shifted.
Moore back heel just put Johnson away but he smashed it into Turner’s chest.
There might, might, be time for one final twist.
But bodies are strewn all over the place. It’s like a battlefield.”
USA 1 – 1 Wales
90, We’re going to have 9 minutes added on at the end of the half.
The referees are certainly trying to clamp down on any time wasting at this tournament.
USA 1 – 1 Wales
90, Chance for Johnson!
The Nottingham Forest forward has a sight of goal as he races down the Wales right.
He never looked like having the conviction to beat Turner though, and the Arsenal goalkeeper saves comfortably.
USA 1 – 1 Wales
89, There’s plenty of space opening up for both teams as the players begin to tire.
A goal for either side would surely be a winner.
Inside the stadium
SunSport’s Martin Lipton in Qatar:
He says: “Just as it looked as if Wales were running out of time and hope….
Got to be the most obvious penalty of the entire tournament – even after two days.
Zimmerman goes right through Bale from behind, smashing him to smithereens and getting nowhere near the ball.
Bale’s biggest moment in a Wales shirt? Probably.
He answered emphatically to start a party behind the goal as the Welsh fans explode with delirium.
Wales’ first World Cup goal since Spurs’ Terry Medwin scored the winner in a group stage play-off against Hungary in Stockholm.
Now it’s a former Spurs man in Doha.
Worth the wait? You betcha!”
USA 1 – 1 Wales
84, There’s likely to be at least 10 minutes left here including injury time.
Can Wales find a famous winner?
GOAL! USA 1 – 1 Wales
82, Gareth Bale never lets Wales down!
He hammers the ball into the top right corner of the net.
Turner got a fingertip to it but Bale’s shot had too much power behind it.
Game on!
Penalty for Wales! USA 1 – 0 Wales
81, Bale wins a penalty for Wales!
A quick throw on the right hand side sends Ramsey in behind the USA’s defence.
Ramsay’s cutback is intended for Bale but the former Real Madrid Man is wiped out by Tim Ream before he gets chance to control.
Bale to take…
USA 1 – 0 Wales
78, Tim Weah is the latest US player to need some medical assistance.
Rob Page has taken the opportunity to send Nottingham Forest forward Brennan Johnson on in place of Neco Williams.
USA 1 – 0 Wales
75, There’s 15 minutes of normal time left to be played here .
Can Wales find an equaliser?
USA 1 – 0 Wales
73, Weston McKennie, who was on a yellow card, has also been substituted.
Leeds winger Brenden Aaronson has come on his place.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
