Cymru v Iceland
19th November 2024
Cardiff City Stadium
With snow falling all day here in South Wales it was only appropriate that Cymru would be taking on Iceland in the final game of the 2024 Nations League. Cymru started the night in second place behind Türkiye. A win for Cymru, and anything less for Türkiye against Montenegro, would see Promotion to League A for Cymru… unlikely as that sounded at kickoff.
Embed from Getty ImagesLike Saturday night there was a long list of absentees for Cymru. Ampadu, Ramsey, Cooper, Moore, Burns, Broadhead, Beck, Luke Harris, as well as David Brooks who was missing through illness.
The game started in the same way as the previous games under Bellamy, with Cymru taking control in the middle third and slowly warming up. Unfortunately, Cymru didn’t warm up quick enough, because after seven minutes Iceland took the lead. Cymru’s first goal conceded at home for over 5 hours. A header from Orri Oskarsson was brilliantly saved by Danny Ward but the only person who reacted to the save was Andri Gudjohnsen. As the old saying goes he ‘turned on a sixpence’ and put the ball through Ward’s legs to open the scoring.
After the goal Cymru took back control of the middle third, with the needed breakthrough coming in the 31st minute. After a flick on by Brennan Johnson, Neco Williams took the ball towards the Iceland box where he passed back to Johnson. His perfect cross was met by Liam Cullen who headed home from six yards out; scoring his first international goal for Cymru.
Embed from Getty ImagesWith one eye on Montenegro, hoping for results to go our way, Cymru were in control for the rest of the half, even though they were not at their best. 65% possession and twice as many shots on target (6 to 3). The final shot on target for Cymru came on the 45’+1 minute mark when Harry Wilson won the ball with a sliding tackle, passed to Mark Harris who had been excellent in the first half. Harris put Dan James through on goal. James’ shot was saved by Hakon Rafn Valdimarsson in the Iceland goal but as with the Iceland goal, the ball fell to the attacker and Liam Cullen knocked it in for his second goal of the night.
Embed from Getty ImagesFive minutes into the second half Danny Ward produced a good save pushing the ball over the bar, thankfully nothing came of the following corner.
Cymru kept control and on the 65th minute Seren y Gêm Liam Cullen made a tackle inside the Cymru half and played a quick through ball to Brennan Johnson. He stormed into the Iceland box and with a low shot beat the keeper. 3-1 to Cymru.
Embed from Getty ImagesY Wal Goch now had more than one eye in Montenegro. Cymru fans hoping that the team at the bottom of the group could somehow produce a miracle and get at least a draw against top of the table Türkiye, The Red Wall were sent into raptures when news came through that Montenegro were leading 3-1 and Cymru moved top of the group and into the promotion spot.
The perfect Cymru night was not over though, when a long kick from Danny Ward was chested down by Liam Cullen. Although he was wrestled to the ground, before the ref could blow the whistle, Harry Wilson ran on to the loose ball and from outside box, curled one past the keeper to make it 4-1.
What a start for Craig Bellamy and Bellas ball.
Noson berffaith, Cymru berffaith!
by @StephenJBaker