Chris @chris10pricey takes a dive into the opening games – the lows and the highs.
Was it worth the wait? It was always going to be special. The colour, the spectacle, the anthem, we’ve waited a long time for this. But after all the talk and waiting, there was the actual game to play, and as kick off approached, my seemingly calm nature was completely overrun with nerves and excitement of what this could be. I can only imagine what it was like in the stadium and in the tunnel.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe big choices pre match revolved around the keeper, the middle of the park and up front. Rob Page went with tried and trusted in Wayne Hennessey, Ampadu taking Allen’s place in midfield and Harry Wilson and Dan James preferred to Kieffer Moore, opting for pace over physicality up top.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe boys emerged, to a firework show, the trophy in the middle of the pitch and those special individuals in their beautiful anthem jackets, with Cymru emblazoned on the back. Never a prouder sight. And then the anthem, there may have only been 3,000 (although it looked like a lot more) of the Red Wall in, but the sound reverberated, our special anthem, our language, on the world stage.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe game settled very quickly into a rhythm with the US having a lot of the ball and penning Wales in. When Wales did have the ball, they were pressed on their back 3, nobody available for a pass, resulting in a relatively aimless long ball towards James, Wilson and Bale. NecoWilliams suffered some brutal punishment early on, being on the end of two yellow cards in quick succession, showing the US determination to recover the ball.
Embed from Getty ImagesDespite their dominance of the ball, the US created very few chances. In fact, their best opportunity in the opening 30 minutes was almost gifted to them by Joe Rodon. A beautiful bring down from Weah and cross in one movement hit Rodon and diverted towards goal, where luckily Hennessey was in the right place to react and from the next phase of play the US had a header that went just past the post.
Embed from Getty ImagesAt times, it resembled the opening games of 2016 and 2021, as we just didn’t get going. The opening goal had an almost inevitable feel about it. A long goal kick was recovered and as the US moved forward, Rodon was caught out high up the pitch allowing Pulisic to turn. As he drove through the midfield, it engaged Mepham, and created a dog leg defence allowing Timothy Weah to run in behind. Despite Neco Williams almost getting back at him, a slide rule ball from Pulisic was perfectly waited and Weah was able to poke it home deftly with the outside of the boot.
The half finished with a flurry of yellow cards by a referee who seemingly desperately wanted his face on tv. Wales had offered very little in the way of threat and it felt like we might have to wait a little longer for Wales to fully arrive.
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Half Time Wales 0 USA 1
At half time, the clear choice had to be Keiffer Moore and he came on for Dan James, who had hardly had a kick first half. The impact was almost instant, as Big Kieffer ran in behind, pressing them higher and moving us up the pitch. The game became a mirror image of the first half, with Wales now having more of the ball and pressing the US higher. The difference was night and day. It was allowing Wales’ full backs, Roberts and Williams to get further forward and allowing Wales an outlet.
In contrast to the USA first half, Wales were creating chances. Ben Davies’ diving header was straight at Turner, when either side of him might have caused a problem. From the resulting corner, Moore got infront of the keeper only to get too much on his glancing header and it flew over the bar. Would Wales rue that huge chance?
The opening few days of the World Cup have shown that to do well, you have to be clinical when you are on top, and Wales were now clearly in the ascendancy. The US were rattled, and it was showing. Their once crisp passing was now wayward, and Wales’pressure would surely tell.
Embed from Getty ImagesAnd 10 minutes from time, came the golden moment. Quick thinking from substitute Brennan Johnson to throw it in to Ramsey. His clip towards Bale, allowed Bale to shield the ball, back to goal and Tim Ream came straight through the back of him. Clear penalty, despite the bewildering US protests and time wasting. Then after what seemed like an age, Gareth Bale stepped up.
Did you have any doubt? His whipped left footed penalty swung away from goalkeeper Turner towards the top right corner, creating Michael Sheen’s Crimson Thunder. The man who has done it all, a once in a generation talent, now has a World Cup goal on his CV. Could Wales go on and win it?
Embed from Getty ImagesAs seemingly the fashion in this World Cup, there was 9 minutes of injury time, taken up by several players on both sides cramping up. Brennan Johnson broke, only to fire his shot straight down the throat of Turner. Wayne Hennessey had a few nervy punches towards the end of stoppage time. The game was played out to the wonderful noise from the Red Wall, their sensational singing drowning out the drums.
Embed from Getty Images There was one last big chance, as Bale took aim with Turner way out of his goal, but a clever/cynical foul denied him the chance of giving Wales one of their most famous nights. A draw was arguably a fair result over the 90 minutes, as USA dominated the first half, whereas Wales were much better in the second.
Bale will get the headlines, but the tactical switch at half time and the impact of Moore, Ampadu and Neco Williams in that second half cannot be underestimated and will put Wales in a great position ahead of their next game. The US will be left to think of what might have been and whether they should have built on their early lead when they were in the ascendancy.
Embed from Getty ImagesNext up, Iran on Friday. After Iran’s battering this afternoon at the hands of England, Wales must capitalise on this if they want to go through. And dare I say it, but we could do with England racking up the score against the USA as well.
Embed from Getty ImagesWorth the wait? Of course it was and now we can’t wait until Friday!
Full Time Wales 1 USA 1
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