Wales maintained their unbeaten record under Craig Bellamy in a 0-0 Nations League draw with Turkey after Kerem Akturkoglu sent his 89th-minute penalty against a post.
Turkey were given the chance to sew up Group B4 when Neco Williams stretched out a leg and Yunus Akgun went to ground.
But Akturkoglu tamely rolled his effort on to the base of a post and wide as Karl Darlow dived the other way.
Aktürkoğlu yn METHU o''r smotyn!
Y gêm yn parhau''n ddi-sgôr.
88'' 🇹🇷 0-0 🏴 #NationsLeague pic.twitter.com/vEaV6kJLMP
— Sgorio ⚽️ (@sgorio) November 16, 2024
The point leaves Wales second in Group B4, two points behind Turkey and two ahead of Iceland following their 2-0 win in Montenegro.
Wales will secure at least a Nations League play-off place in March by avoiding defeat at home to Iceland on Tuesday while knowing victory would secure top spot and promotion to League A should Turkey lose in Montenegro.
A point against the Euro 2024 quarter-finalists in Kayseri was earned the hard way – often suffering the ‘pain’ that Bellamy had predicted before kick-off.
Turkey dominated possession, territory and goal attempts but Wales displayed resilience – evidenced by countless blocks – that would have delighted Bellamy.
⏰ FT | 🇹🇷 0-0 🏴
It ends goalless in Kayseri.
💻 https://t.co/kBWfdaoX8Z#UNL | #TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/kIjsotwy3e
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) November 16, 2024
Wales struck the woodwork through Harry Wilson while Jordan James saw his first-half effort disallowed for offside.
Daniel James was available for the first time to Bellamy after injury but the Leeds winger started on the bench with Sorba Thomas preferred.
Darlow got the nod over Danny Ward in goal as Josh Sheehan and Jordan James formed a new midfield partnership.
Turkey had not played in Kayseri since September 2013 when they beat Andorra 5-0 in a World Cup qualifier on a night Inter Milan midfielder and current captain Hakan Calhanoglu made his debut.
Wales began in the fashion of a confident side unbeaten in four games, composed in possession amid the deafening whistles from the stands if not creating anything of substance.
But Arda Guler, the precocious Real Madrid teenager, tested Darlow from range and the momentum shifted as Turkey took control.
Brennan Johnson was booked for tripping Baris Alper Yilmaz and the Turkey forward was soon down in the penalty area as Darlow punched clear and home supporters bayed for a spot-kick.
Turkey were let down by some wild shooting from Akturkoglu and Merih Demiral but Wales were looking increasingly shaky.
Pushing for an opener. ⚡️
💻 https://t.co/kBWfdaoX8Z#UNL | #TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/QzE0dhByZ2
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) November 16, 2024
Connor Roberts’ intervention at the far post prevented Demiral from a simple tap-in and Darlow thrust out a strong left hand to deny Akgun from Akturkoglu’s defence-splitting pass.
Akturkoglu and Wilson both went to ground inside 60 seconds claiming penalties before Wales had the ball in the net.
Mark Harris cut the ball back for Jordan James to finish sweetly but VAR confirmed the assistant referee’s decision that the Wales striker was marginally offside.
Joe Rodon and Harris were involved in a horrible clash of heads that left them grounded and needing treatment for several minutes.
Y postyn rhwng Cymru a’r fantais! 🏴
Ar yr egwyl: Twrci 0-0 @Cymru@S4C | #NationsLeague pic.twitter.com/JEUtd89kNp
— Sgorio ⚽️ (@sgorio) November 16, 2024
Both eventually continued – Harris with a nasty shiner by his right eye and Rodon sporting a headband – and they were almost celebrating a goal three minutes into stoppage time.
Harris sped down the left to find Wilson and his left-footed effort bounced off the post and just away from Johnson on the rebound.
Darlow held Guler’s header and there was little surprise Harris was replaced at half-time by Daniel James, with Johnson moving into a central striking role.
🏴 Cynghrair B – Grŵp 4
Twrci yn parhau ar y brig wedi''r gêm ddi-sgôr yn erbyn Cymru.
Cymru yn croesawu Gwlad yr Iâ i Stadiwm Dinas Caerdydd nos Fawrth ar gyfer rownd olaf o gêmau Cynghrair y Cenhedloedd UEFA. pic.twitter.com/GHDwbrsfwN
— Sgorio ⚽️ (@sgorio) November 16, 2024
Wales escaped when Wilson gave the ball away and Akturkoglu sliced wide but there was less fluency from Turkey until Akgun skipped past Williams to tee up Enes Unal.
But the Bournemouth forward, having been introduced just moments earlier, poked wide with the goal at his mercy.
Guler had another gilt-edged chance when left unmarked inside the area but Wales survived that and late penalty drama to claim a worthy point.
Team AnalysisVietnam The two-legged finals include home and away games. Vietnam will be at home first, and they hope to grab the advantage in goal difference, with strong morale.Vietnamese naturalized forward Nguyen Xuan Son scored twice in the last game. He made his first cap for Vietnam in this ASEAN Championship, giving 5 goals and 2 assists in his three starting games so far, and he is leading...
Let's start our Daily Laugh today. Epl week 19 LOL When you spot it Show yourselves. Next match: Supercoppa Italiana Semi-Final: Juventus FC vs AC Milan. Cristiano Ronaldo has Scored 97 GOALS since the start of 2023! Bro Traveled with his Mom all the way from Mongolia to Old Trafford.. ... only to watch Manchester United drop another stinker and lose again. Gotta feel for him and all the Manchest...
Amorim admits Man Utd will NOT have money to spend in JanuaryRuben Amorim has revealed Manchester United will not have money to spend in the January transfer window despite the need for new signings.Speaking candidly to reporters on Monday night about the possibility of January transfers, Amorim stated, "We don't have that possibility in January. You know the situation better than I [do]. It's not...
Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold has been called out by Jamie Carragher after claiming he encouraged Real Madrid to submit a bid for him in January.The Reds have reportedly turned down an attempt from Real Madrid to secure the services of the right-back in the January transfer window.Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold has been called out by Jamie CarragherAlexander-Arnold will be free to n...
Man United star Antony could leave the Premier League club during the January transfer window, and the winger may be offered a way out by a La Liga team. The agent of Antony admitted that several clubs have made approaches for the Brazilian ahead of the January window as the 24-year-old looks for a way out of Old Trafford having fallen out of favour in Manchester.Ruben Amorim vowed to help Antony ...
Barcelona could lose Dani Olmo for the second half of the season after LaLiga said the Catalan club are not in a position to extend the Spain international's registration ahead of Tuesday's deadline.Olmo, 26, joined Barca in the summer and was granted a temporary registration until Dec. 31, giving Barca time to comply with the league's financial fair play rules and prolong his registration until t...
Newcastle's Trippier to be sold in JanuaryNewcastle United could sell Kieran Trippier with a January move abroad on the cards, three years after he first joined the club.Williams and Isak headline Arsenal shortlistNico Williams and Alexander Isak are both under consideration as Arsenal aim to sign a wide forward in January.Could Spurs cancel Werner's loan?Tottenham could cancel Timo Werner's loan ...
Team AnalysisBrentfordBrentford scored 12 goals in the last 5 home games with a great offense.Brentford ended 3 of the last 4 games with UNDER. The percentage of UNDER has rebounded.Brentford are seriously hit by injuries so far. Major goalkeeper Mark Flekken and defender Ben Mee are doubtful with injuries, while Sepp van den Berg and Ethan Pinnock are unavailable with injuries.Brentford drew 0-0 ...
Christopher Nkunku and Mikel Arteta (Photo by Alex Grimm, Julian Finney/Getty Images)Christopher Nkunku remains eager to leave Chelsea in the forthcoming January transfer window, sources have told CaughtOffside.The French attacker has been delegated a role in the club’s ‘B Team’ this campaign, leaving him frustrated. He has only featured in 326 minutes of Premier League action so...
Martin Zubimendi with the Spain national team.The 2024/25 campaign has not gone to plan for Man City and in order to salvage what they can of the season, the Premier League champions are looking to bring Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi to the Etihad. Pep Guardiola is currently facing a crisis that he has never experienced before in his managerial career as the Spaniard’s team sit fift...
