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.
Interim boss Stephen Frail expects Motherwell to appoint a new manager next week and admits their first job will be to lift the players’ confidence after a 3-0 mauling at home to Ross County.A double from Ronan Hale and Connor Randall’s last-minute strike secured an impressive victory for the Staggies at Fir Park.Defeat sees the Steelmen drop into the bottom half of the Premiership tab...
Mark Hughes heaped praise on goalkeeper Gabe Breeze after Carlisle picked up a vital point in the League Two relegation battle with a goalless draw against in-form Colchester at Brunton Park.Breeze made two excellent saves from Lyle Taylor as the Cumbrians ended a four-game losing run and the former Man City boss was astounded by the 21-year-old’s performance.He said: “The game had som...
Chesterfield boss Paul Cook launched a scathing attack on his play-off hopefuls after they surrendered an early lead to lose 3-1 at Sky Bet League Two table-toppers Walsall.The Spireites enjoyed a rapid start when Jamie Grimes’ eighth-minute header put them ahead against a wobbling Walsall side, who were winless in five matches with the chasing pack closing in.However, Bim Pepple and Dylan D...
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has allayed fears of an injury scare to top scorer Erling Haaland ahead of next week’s Champions League trip to Real Madrid.Haaland went down clutching his leg in the latter stages of the champions’ 4-0 Premier League thrashing of Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday and was immediately substituted.Losing the Norwegian would be a major blow to ...
Rotherham manager Steve Evans described Thomas Parsons’ performance as “atrocious” after the referee awarded a stoppage-time penalty from which Reading snatched a 2-1 victory in League One.Reading had led 1-0 at half-time through top scorer Harvey Knibbs but Sam Nombe levelled for Rotherham from a spot-kick in the 57th minute.With the game heading for a draw, Parsons adjudged Mil...
Michael Flynn believes his team can make a charge towards the League Two play-offs places after watching them come from 2-0 down to beat Barrow 3-2 at home.Matty Taylor scored twice before fellow substitute Ashley Hay hit the winner as the Robins continued their perfect home record in 2025.Cheltenham climbed to 13th in the table and sit eight points off seventh-placed Crewe with two games in hand....
Birmingham manager Chris Davies praised Jay Stansfield’s work ethic after he lit up St Andrew’s with the only goal of a 1-0 win to sink play-off chasing Charlton.Stansfield’s 23rd-minute strike stretched City’s lead to nine points ahead of second-placed Wycombe, with Blues boasting a game in hand.Victory was City’s 30th in all competitions as they extended their unbea...
Andoni Iraola refused to get carried away after Bournemouth fans were left dreaming of a potential Champions League adventure following a first league double over south-coast rivals Southampton.Travelling Cherries fans chanted of playing in European football’s premier competition next season after their side soared to fifth spot in the Premier League table thanks to a deserved 3-1 success at...
Norwich head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup praised his side for fighting back to draw 1-1 at Hull after he demanded “I want to see my football team back”.The Norwich boss had some tough words for his team as they trailed 1-0 at half-time to the relegation-threatened side, including for Kellen Fisher – but the player then delivered the assist for Josh Sargent’s equaliser.The Un...
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says Jota has a chance of starting against Bayern Munich after scoring and impressing in a 3-0 victory over Dundee United.Jota earned the club’s man-of-the-match award after cutting in from the left and curling home from 18 yards to double the lead given to the hosts by another impressive finish from Callum McGregor.The Portuguese winger has now started two gam...
