Wales 1-1 USA (Bale pen 82′ | Weah 36′)
AHMED BIN ALI STADIUM – Matt Turner had advanced too far into the goalkeeping corridor of uncertainty to do anything about it.
America’s last line of defence was stranded when the ball fell to Gareth Bale, minutes on the clock, winding back his left calf for a shot at immortality. For a moment it looked on, until the USA’s wily substitute Kellyn Acosta crashed into him, drawing the most cynical of cautions.
Bale slowly rose, a begrudging smile belatedly crossing his lips. Even for a man infused with a superhuman knack for bestriding football’s biggest stages, it felt like a Hollywood ending too far.
His consolation prize? Writing another chapter in Welsh football history by winning and converting the penalty that took the roof off the Ahmed bin Ali stadium. It was a strike that kept Wales’ World Cup alive and kicking. They will roll on to meet a shell-shocked Iran with momentum after withstanding a fierce first half onslaught from a talented but surprisingly brittle US team.
There's only one man for the job!!
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) November 21, 2022@GarethBale11 equalises for his country from the spot just when they needed him to!
#ArBenYByd | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/GHLY6S26LA
For long periods it did not look like Bale would swipe centre-stage. He has been restricted to a walk on part in Hollywood, his Los Angeles FC adventure looking more like an indulgence than a serious career move. But those who write him off do so at their peril.
While Bale’s powers might have dimmed a shade – the dynamite in his legs defused by the passing years – he remains a man capable of bending the narrative in his shape even when momentum seems to be ebbing away.
It was Bale who won the 80th minute penalty, twisting to tempt Tim Ream into the clumsiest of fouls. And – inevitably – he was the man to convert it before beating his chest ferociously in front of a delirious red wall.
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All of that wiped out the stodginess of Wales’ World Cup return, which Bale had played his part in. It might still be sacrilege to say it publicly, but there were times before his decisive penalty swipe when Rob Page would have been well within his rights to replace him.
There’s a reason Page wasn’t about to morph into Graham Taylor, who never quite lived down substituting Gary Lineker at Euro ’92. And Bale justified his faith, allowing the Welsh voices congregated in Doha the moment their incredible support deserved.
Qatar’s noise was confected, England’s muted and Iran’s drowned out by howls of protest. So the stirring sound of a pumped up Red Wall belting out “Land of My Fathers” was the moment an authentic atmosphere finally arrived at this World Cup. Never mind the attempts to drum up enthusiasm by the try-hard organisers, simply turn off the PA and let there be hymns.
Unfortunately for Wales, that crimson explosion from the terraces was not matched for the first half by a team who looked dazzled by the World Cup headlights.
A wait of 64 years had drawn impressive numbers to Doha, most of them decked in bucket hats and feverish in their anticipation. But Wales looked like they were stuck in those analogue days of the 50s as their opponents brought verve, swift counters and a rapier threat in the form of the precocious Timothy Weah.
Where had the US been hiding this form? In the run up to Qatar, discontent with coach Gregg Berhalter was building after the team laboured against El Salvador, Japan and Saudi Arabia. The consensus was more should be achieved with such a richly talented group.
They had a point on the basis of a first half laced with creativity and endeavour from this young American side. Yunus Musah broke the lines with purpose, Sergino Dest carried the ball with menace from the back and Christian Pulisic yanked the strings in a way he’s rarely done for Chelsea recently. England should beware of underestimated opponents.
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Wales had no answer and dropped deep. Bale became increasingly isolated and picked up a yellow card borne of deep frustration. Then Weah struck, finishing a devastating move that sliced through a sea of static red shirts. Pele was the last man to score against Wales in a World Cup and it was a goal even the great man might have accepted as part of his record-breaking collection.
Page had no choice but to take a scalpel to his original blueprint and sending for Kieffer Moore at the break was intended to shock Wales’ World Cup back into life. It was the right call given how drab their Plan A had looked. Dan James, admittedly peripheral, was the fall guy when either Bale or Ramsey could have had few complaints.
The injection of urgency worked. Wales were a different animal in the second half and Moore will undoubtedly start against Iran. They are alive and kicking in a World Cup that suddenly looks full of possibility.
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