Wales 1-0 Ukraine (Yarmolenko OG ’34)
If ever proof were needed that Gareth Bale’s touch is magic, here it was. When he stands over a dead ball from distance, the spectacular unfolds. Even when the free-kick lacks power or plunge, it still ends up in the back of the net.
Andriy Yarmolenko was diving towards his own goal as the final, crucial touch deflected in. Cue a deafening crescendo that threatened to raise the roof, even with an hour to go until Wales would seal their place at a first World Cup since 1958.
For Ukraine, national pride was never in doubt. In the dressing room, a flag was unfurled bearing messages from soldiers on the frontline fighting bigger battles than this. Led onto the pitch by Yarmolenko draped in blue and yellow, there can no longer be any question about the significance of the sporting theatre on the world stage. If Russia’s almost universal ban from competition was a fitting punishment, Ukraine had the opportunity of a lifetime to send a message of defiance.
Oleksandr Zinchenko had suggested beforehand that this play-off would not be won or lost on tactics, or even physical exertion. Still, Ukraine had to play the game, not the occasion, and they very nearly got off to the perfect start when, just three minutes in, their Premier League winner took the set piece quickly – too quickly for the officials’ liking – and it bobbled all the way past Wayne Hennessey in goal.
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They will not be in Qatar, but they had secured the hearts and minds of the world long before they arrived in a sodden Cardiff. There have been darker days for these players and their families and the result would never have dampened the admiration they have received from the football world and beyond.
It should not have come as a surprise to anyone, however, when Bale engineered the opening goal. While he had thus far nestled the ball out of play and blazed an opportunity over the bar, the path to Doha was always going to be trodden by their talisman.
For a man who has won five European Cups and three titles, it said something that he considered Wales’ qualification to be among his greatest achievements. He promised too, that for all the talk of international retirement, this 103rd cap would not be his last in red – not least because Wales still have three Nations League matches to complete in the current international break. His future is surely no longer up for debate now, with even brighter moments lying in wait for his country.
It could all have been undone when VAR threatened to penalise a blindsided Joe Allen for felling Yarmolenko; but no penalty.
These margins felt decisive in a midfield battle where Wales had to learn Scotland’s lessons from the semi-final. They could not press with no plan; Aaron Ramsey needed to sit tight.
Just as well; after the heartache of his penalty miss for Rangers in Seville, he is still awaiting redemption, sloppy in possession and firing wide Wales’ best move of the match after fine work down the left from Neco Williams, Dan James and Kieffer Moore. Ramsey’s task was to remain disciplined; almost immediately, he landed Allen in trouble as his midfield partner cleaned up the pieces.
Player ratings
- Hennessey – 9
- Ampadu – 6
- Rodon – 7
- Davies – 8
- Roberts – 7
- Ramsey – 5
- Allen – 6
- James – 6.5
- N. Williams – 7
- Bale – 8
- Moore – 5
Substitutes:
- Johnson – 7
- Wilson – 6
- Norrington-Davies – N/A
Yet as Ukraine jostled for the equaliser, Hennessey was heroic. Tested down low, sprawling for long balls and parring away Artem Dovbyk’s header; the goalkeeper, in place of Robert Page’s more regular stopper Danny Ward, was repeatedly called into action, not least when Ethan Ampadu struggled with the offside trap.
Hennessey had Ben Davies to thank for ensuring it was not a solo effort to keep Ukraine at bay. The Tottenham defender mustered two remarkable sliding tackles, the best of them ending with a cool shunt off the outside of his boot to deny Yarmolenko.
There was a danger, as was the case against Scotland, that Ukraine would tire from lack of match fitness in the final stages. Page took off the physical presence of Moore for the bounce of Brennan Johnson, newly promoted with Nottingham Forest and striking the post within moments of his introduction. In turn, Ukraine did not have the same flexibility, thwarted from close range and then resorting to more speculative efforts.
The final triumph eluded them, but the journey here has amplified everything that is emotive, powerful and dignified about this Ukrainian side. That has not changed, regardless of the result.
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