Wales' all-time top scorer Gareth Bale netted a late penalty as they rallied in the second half to secure a 1-1 draw with the USA in an enthralling World Cup Group B clash at a raucous Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.
It was the proverbial game of two halves as the USA went into the break with a deserved 1-0 advantage handed to them after a superb finish by Timothy Weah, the son of former World Player of the Year and current Liberian President George.
But a switch in tactics by Wales at the break to introduce target forward Kieffer Moore changed the game and brought them back into the contest, allowing Bale to score the 82nd-minute penalty he had earned after being fouled.
The match was played in a fantastic atmosphere. The Welsh fans were drowning out Al Rayyan but met their match in the typically vocal USA supporters, whose drum barely stopped beating.
Wales were fortunate not to be behind early on when Weah’s cross deflected off a helpless Joe Rodon and hit Wayne Hennessey, with the Wales goalkeeper knowing little about it.
Seconds later Antonee Robinson headed wide with a good near-post opportunity.
The pattern in the first half was USA possession and Wales trapped in their own half, unable to find an escape route without a recognised No 9 to hold up the ball.
Instead, Bale and Dan James alternated down the middle with little joy and whenever Wales cleared the ball it came straight back. The pressure finally took its toll after 36 minutes.
Christian Pulisic picked up the ball just inside the Welsh half and surged forward, seeing the clever run of Weah and providing a superbly weighted pass that was expertly finished by the winger as he slipped his shot past Hennessey.
Wales manager Rob Page made the key change at half-time when he replaced the ineffective James with the tall and muscular Moore, who was exactly what they had been missing in the opening period.
It was, suddenly, a different ball game.
Wales were able to apply pressure at the other end and went close twice in quick succession.
First Ben Davies forced a superb stop from goalkeeper Matt Turner before Moore headed the resultant corner just over with a chance he should have buried.
Wales’ pressure paid dividends as they won a penalty when Tim Ream, already on a yellow card for a cynical challenge earlier in the half, went through the back of Bale, who made no mistake from the spot as he thrashed the ball wide of Turner.
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
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Malcolm & Marie
Directed by: Sam Levinson
Starring: John David Washington and Zendaya
Three stars
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 1 (Rashford 36')
Liverpool 1 (Lallana 84')
Man of the match: Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
