Slovakia 1 Wales 1: Kieffer Moore bags first international goal but stunning Juraj Kucka stunning equaliser dents Welsh Euro 2020 hopes
FORMER lifeguard Kieffer Moore kept Wales' heads above water in their bid to reach Euro 2020.
The Wigan forward - winning only his second cap - repaid the faith shown in him by Ryan Giggs by nodding in a first half opener.
At that point the Dragons were on the crest of a wave and their travelling fans were dreaming of another trip to the European Championships.
But Juraj Kucka volleyed in a stunning equaliser early in the second half to come to the rescue of the home side.
A point keeps Giggs' hopes of leading his team to the finals alive - but there is still a lot to do in the last three matches.
The team picked by Giggs might not have inspired much confidence among the 2000 travelling Dragons fans.
There was no place for skipper Ashley Williams with Joe Rodon and Tom Lockyer - just a handful of caps between them, chosen to start.
Jonny Williams was handed a first start for his country since Euro 2016 - while Wigan striker Moore, who has yet to score this season, started up front.
BALE AGONISINGLY CLOSE
Yet it seemed to work and despite all their injury absentees, Wales looked as bright as they have at any point in this campaign.
They could easily have fallen behind early on though.
Marek Hamsik's cross was flicked on to Robert Mak and his shot was brilliantly blocked by Ethan Ampadu to stop a certain goal.
The on loan Chelsea man's intervention proved to be a key moment as Wales went on the attack.
Skipper Gareth Bale went agonisingly close to giving the visitors the lead when his header from a Connor Roberts cross looped onto the bar.
Yet minutes later Moore showed him how it should be done.
Dan James got away from his man down the left and hung up a cross which Moore nodded back where it came from and into the bottom corner - giving Newcastle keeper Martin Dubrvaka no chance.
The former England C international is a former lifeguard.He was playing non-league football when Wales were reaching the semi-finals of Euro 2016.
What a moment for him to come to the rescue of Giggs' men.
Manchester United new boy James was giving his full-back plenty of problems down his flank and Wales were a real threat on the break.
The home side looked dangerous when former Napoli man Hamsik got on the ball - he created another chance for Mak who fired straight at Hennessey.
At the other end, the visitors appealed for a penalty as Williams went down under a challenge from Norbert Gyomber.
It looked like a spot-kick to the naked eye - but replays showed he got the Slovak defender got the slightest of touches on the ball.
Bale cut in from the right and fired in a shot which stung the hands of Dubravka but he managed to hold it at the second attempt.
But Giggs must have been delighted at the break as his team had produced the best half of his 18 month reign.
James whistled an effort over the bar early in the second half but you couldn't escape the feeling Wales would need another goal.
WHAT A HIT
And sure enough the equaliser arrived within 10 minutes of the re-start as Connor Roberts dived to head a cross away.
The ball fell for Juraj Kucka on the edge of the box and he thumped a volley into the bottom corner with Hennessey motionless.
What a hit it was - and what a setback for the Dragons after all their good work in the first half.
A few Welsh heads went down at that moment but they hung in there as Hennessey got down superbly to tip away a low shot by Kucka.
Yet Giggs' men still looked dangerous on the break as Bale sent Roberts away down the right and he pulled the ball back for Moore.
The 6ft 5in forward got there first but his effort was bundled around the post by Dubravka.
Wales knew a draw would keep them in the hunt but with much work to do in their final three matches.
They pushed to get the winner as Rodon got his head on a free-kick by sub Harry Wilson but it was deflected over the bar.
It could have gone either way and Rodon came close again late on with an acrobatic overhead kick that dropped onto the roof of the net.
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Gyomber saw red for a second yellow card and Bale could count himself lucky not to follow him off for an early bath.
The Real Madrid star had been given a yellow card for a foul on Stanislav Lobotka and went in awkwardly on Milan Skriniar.
The pair clashed knees and Bale needed lengthy treatment but was OK to carry on - and was relieved there was no card from the Spanish referee.