Craig Bellamy remained upbeat after Wales surrendered a two-goal interval lead to draw their Nations League tie in Iceland.
Brennan Johnson and Harry Wilson rewarded some incisive first-half approach play to put Wales in command on a freezing night in Reykjavik.
But Wales were hanging on for grim death at the end after Logi Tomasson scored and then forced Danny Ward into an unfortunate own goal at his near post inside three second-half minutes.
🇮🇸 2-2 🏴 SGÔR TERFYNOL
Our third match of the Nations League ends with a draw.
Montenegro next 🔜
💻 https://t.co/Ee3GvSzrRg #NationsLeague | #TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/Qr8DfmQy38
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) October 11, 2024
Orri Oskarsson smashed the crossbar from 20 yards and Jon Thorsteinsson struck a post as Wales rather fortuitously extended their unbeaten Nations League start to three games.
Wales boss Bellamy said: “I was really pleased. I enjoyed it. I’m a big fan of Iceland so I knew it was going to be a difficult game.
“Of course we were 2-0 up by half-time but my words were: ‘This is going to be a long half’. A very good manager (Age Hareide), we knew being 2-0 down they were going to throw more men at the press because they had to.
“How were we going to find the solutions? Because the solutions were there, but it’s being able to find them at the time.
“There’s a lot to benefit us, especially the second half. It allows us to coach more, it builds a library in the players’ head: ‘Remember this situation, remember when we found this period difficult’.
“They can memorise it. This is our third game together.
“In the long run, I’m really happy. This is not me trying to sugar-coat drawing after being 2-0 up, it really isn’t.
“What I’m telling you (reporters) I told the players. This was really good.”
Bellamy began his Wales reign last month with a 0-0 draw against Turkey in Cardiff and a 2-1 victory in Montenegro.
Iceland’s comeback deprived Wales of joint top spot in Group B4 as Turkey beat Montenegro 1-0 at home.
Turkey now lead the way by two points with Wales hoping to close the gap on Monday when Montenegro, bottom of the group and without a point, visit Cardiff City Stadium.
Johnson and Jordan James will miss out through suspension, adding to a worrying absentee list with skipper Aaron Ramsey, Ethan Ampadu and Daniel James sidelined by injury.
Bellamy said: “We’ve had two yellows which will mean a change on Monday, but it’s quite predictable due to different styles of refereeing.
“It was me learning about the players and them learning from us. It’s never good to concede, I don’t like it, we’ll look at it again.
“I felt momentum played a big part. It’s about us understanding when to take the sting out the game, which will come.”
Iceland are a point behind Wales at the halfway stage of the campaign and host Turkey on Monday.
Manager Hareide said: “Football is a crazy sport sometimes. I have to praise the team that we lifted ourselves and came back in the second half and played really good football.
“We should have won it, and that is the only disappointment at the end.”
[(Velez Sarsfield) Strength]: 1. During their first encounter, Velez Sarsfield played a goalless draw. In this home game, they vow to grab a win and advance, with full motivation.2. Braian Romero withstood the pressure in the last game and scored a penalty in the final moment, helping the team seal a last-gasp victory.3. Velez Sarsfield defeated Club Atletico Independiente 2-1 in the last game, wh...
[(Ferencvaros) Strength]: 1. Ferencvaros are motivated to win this home game and take the lead in advancing.2. Cadu scored a goal in the last game, once helping the team tie the game.3. Ferencvaros received 3 wins and 1 loss in the last 4 home games, revealing outstanding home performances.4. Ferencvaros scored 11 goals and conceded 3 in the last 5 games, boasting excellent attack and solid defens...
[(Gwangju FC) Strength]: 1. The first leg of the Semi-finals will see Gwangju FC play at home first. They hope to grab the advantage, with full motivation.2. Gwangju FC forward Reis scored twice in the last game, being in good form.3. Gwangju FC performed well and scored a 2-0 win over Daejeon Hana Citizen in hte last game, thus getting back on the winning ways.4. AH market provided home team a -1...
[(FC Machida Zelvia) Strength]: 1. In the last league game, Korean internationals Oh Se Hun and Na Sang Ho both scored in open play, showing decent performances.2. This game is FC Machida Zelvia's fourth consecutive home game, which is in favor of them.3. FC Machida Zelvia won 3-0 over Cerezo Osaka in the last league game, securing a 10-game winning streak across all competitions.4. FC Machida Zel...
[(Crvena Zvezda) Strength]: 1. Crvena Zvezda vow to win this home game in order to grab the advancing advantage, with full motivation.2. Aleksandar Katai performed very well in the last domestic league game. He scored a hat-trick in a win for the team.3. Crvena Zvezda defeated Mladost Lucani 4-1 in the last domestic league game. They achieved 7 wins and 1 draw in the last 8 games, being in red-hot...
[(Sao Paulo FC) Strength]: 1. Sao Paulo FC drew with Atletico Nacional in the first leg on the road. They will advance to the next round if they win this round at home, indicating full motivation to win.2. Sao Paulo FC signed Serie A team Atalanta BC captain Rafael Toloi recently. He is expected to make his debut in this match.3. Sao Paulo FC drew 2-2 with Sport Club do Recife in the last league g...
[(Chengdu Rongcheng FC) Strength]: 1. Chengdu Rongcheng FC drew 0-0 with Qingdao Hainiu F.C. in the last Chinese Super League, ending their winning streak. However, the team were unbeaten with 5 wins and 1 draw in the last 6 games, showing commendable performances.2. Chengdu Rongcheng FC scored 12 goals in the last 5 home games, revealing outstanding attack at home.3. Chengdu Rongcheng FC are now ...
[(Sanfrecce Hiroshima) Strength]: 1. Sanfrecce Hiroshima have achieved 14 wins, 4 draws and 8 losses in the league so far this season. They have scored 30 goals and conceded 18 goals in 26 league matches, and currently rank 5th in the league standings. The team will play at home in this game and have a strong desire to win.2. Naoto Arai, the main defender of Sanfrecce Hiroshima, has performed stea...
[(Rangers F.C.) Strength]: 1. Rangers F.C. beat Alloa Athletic 4-2 in the last game, avoiding a losing streak. They have a good adjusting ability.2. Rangers F.C. eliminated FC Viktoria Plzen 4-2 on aggregate in the last round of the cup and advanced.3. Rangers F.C. scored 10 goals in the last 5 games with a stable offense, averaging 2 goals per game.4. Rangers F.C. kept unbeaten in the last 5 home...
[(Real Madrid CF) Strength]: 1. Real Madrid CF finished 2nd last season and hope to regain the La Liga title this season. This summer, the team boosted their squad strength. Thus, they are motivated to secure the first win in this opener at home.2. Real Madrid CF's two veteran stalwarts, Modric and Lucas Vazquez, have departed one after another. During the offseason, the club signed Trent Alexande...
- 1 Brentford Agree Deal to Sign Dango Ouattara From Bournemouth
- 2 TIPS - Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas VS Liga Deportiva Universitaria
- 3 TIPS - Villarreal VS Real Oviedo
- 4 ngland cricket legend’s granddaughter stuns in bikini
- 5 Lamela explains retirement decision: It started 11 years ago...
- 6 Estevao Willian set for 'key' Chelsea role after debut vs Palace
- 7 TIPS - Club Necaxa VS Club Leon
- 8 Emotional Arne Slot admits he had wanted to bring late Diogo Jota on as a substitute in Liverpool's dramatic victory over Bournemouth
- 9 Benjamin Sesko vs Viktor Gyokeres: Man Utd-Arsenal showdown sets early stage for big-money No.9s to show the Premier League what they can offer
- 10 TIPS - Cambuur Leeuwarden VS FC Oss