Thursday 4th September 2025
UEFA World Cup Qualifiers – Group J
Astana Arena
What could be the most beautiful of 3 points came in the most ugly way with this 1-0 victory over a very good Kazakhstan team, thousands of miles away from home.
Cymru without established players such as Ethan Ampadu, Aaron Ramsey, Joe Rodon, Nathan Broadhead, Conner Roberts and Danny Ward. It left an opportunity for Cardiff City teenager Dylan Lawlor to make his debut playing Centre Back. The 19 year old carried on his excellent start of the season with a Seren y Gêm performance. Part of a Cardiff defence that has only let in one goal this season (and that was a penalty) now has a clean sheet for his country.
Although that clean sheet was almost dirtied on serval occasions in a nail bitting, stomach turning second half. Having beaten Kazakhstan 3-1 in Cardiff, we knew it wasn’t going to be has easy playing them Away on their Astroturf pitch and with their club football on the up, knocking Celtic out of the Champions League last week. It was never going to be easy, but on another day it would have gone horribly wrong.
Here are some stats that shows how close the match was:
14 (3 on target) shots for Kazakhstan compared to Cymru’s 16 (3 on target)
20 to 22 touches in the opposition box
6 Corners each
46.7% to 30% tackles won
And thankfully for Y Wal Goch the hosts hit the woodwork twice!
But at the end of the day there is only one stat that matters and that’s the score. Thankfully that was in our favour 1-0, Kieffer Moore with the winner. The big man now playing for Wrecsam, became the first of their players to score for Cymru since Chris Llewellyn in 2006. Today’s goal brought his total Cymru goals to 15, taking him to 11th in the top scorer charts for the Men’s Cymru team, joint with the legendary John Charles.
His goal developed from a header from Liam Cullen that was saved by Temirlan Anarbekov making his debut for Kazakhstan. Unfortunately for him the ball fell at the feet of Kieffer who reacted quicker than anyone else and knocked it home from short range.
Cymru went in the half time break 1-0 up but they needed another goal to relax. The Kazakhstan players came out for the second half with added impetus, knowing they were still in with a chance of getting something from this match. They had the better chances of the second half and were very unlucky on a few occasions.
Much credit should be given to Kazakhstan after this performance, they pushed Cymru all the way, giving us nail bitting and stomach dropping moments right to the very end. In the last minute of the game they were awarded a free kick on the edge of the D of the penalty area. Serikzhan Muzhikov took the free kick, curling it over the wall, beating Karl Darlow in goal, only to hit the crossbar.
An ugly win, but a win after all. I’ve seen many of these matches end up in a draw or defeat for Cymru but this time they held on. Next for Cymru is Canada in Swansea, then it’s the big one. Belgium in Cardiff. Everyone grow your nails, we are going to need them to bite!
@StephenJBaker with the game review.