RAM LEADS CHARGE

Turkey 0 Wales 2: Ramsey and Roberts put Dragons on brink of KO stages despite Bale’s penalty shocker in fiery clash

NEVER mind ‘Welcome to Hell’ – Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale once again combined to put Wales into heaven.  

The Dragons had been promised a hostile welcome with more than 25,000 Turkish fans making it feel like a ‘home’ game here in Azerbaijan.

Advertisement
Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey celebrates his stylish 42nd-minute breakthroughCredit: AFP
Aaron Ramsey clips Wales 1-0 up against TurkeyCredit: Reuters
Gareth Bale roars with delight, having set up both Wales goals either side of missing a penaltyCredit: Getty
Aaron Ramsey was the key man for Wales against Turkey

But skipper Bale said it would only give them extra motivation - and how right he was.

He and Ramsey – so often the saviours of their country – turned on the style with the Juventus man once again pivotal.  

His goal here from Bale’s pass - and a late strike from Connor Roberts - will surely see Rob Page’s men take their place in the last 16 later this month.

And this will go down alongside the heroics of Euro 2016 as one of the great nights for Welsh football history.

Advertisement

The only surprise was they did not win by more against a team tipped as a dark horse before the tournament started – with Bale skying a pen and Ramsey wasting several clear chances.

There was a sign of what was to come early on as the Real Madrid man's pass sent Ramsey away and he turned Caglar Soyuncu neatly but was denied by Ugurcan Cakir.

Kieffer Moore was screaming for a cross and maybe the Juventus man could have been more unselfish.

Gareth Bale reacts to his spectacular spot-kick miss
Advertisement
Connor Roberts tucks home Gareth Bale's pull-back in stoppage time to seal an impressive 2-0 win for WalesCredit: AP
Turkey's Burak Yilmaz clashes with Ethan Ampadu in a heated climaxCredit: Getty

The giant Cardiff forward then got on the end of a cross by Dan James but could only land his header onto the roof of the net.

Advertisement

Then another cute pass by Bale sent Ramsey clear again as he sprang the offside trap but blasted his effort high over the bar.

Turkey then had their best spell of the game with Kaan Ayhan seeing a header nodded off the line by Joe Morrell.

But they had not heeded the warnings from earlier and just before the break Bale once again opened them up with a glorious left-footed pass.

Once again Ramsey timed his run perfectly and this time he chested down before beating Cakir emphatically.

Advertisement

What a moment for Wales – and no more than they deserved.

Royal Ascot day three special 🏇🎩

 

Their two superstars did not really turn up against Switzerland – but they turned on the style in the first half here.

Advertisement

Turkey improved after the break with star man Burak Yilmaz volleying his effort high over the bar after the ball had bobbled around in the box.

Gareth Bale was on the ball all over the pitch for Wales

Ramsey saw a shot on the turn pushed away by Cakir and the Juventus man must have been feeling he could have had the match ball.

But the next huge chance fell to Bale who was clipped in the box by Zeki Celik to win a penalty and grabbed the ball himself.

Advertisement

The skipper blazed his effort high over the bar in the sort of Wales penalty more often seen at the Principality Stadium in the Six Nations.

Most read in Sport

XMAS TRAGEDY
Real Madrid star's 'brother-in-law' is shot dead in Christmas Day horror
WOLVES 2 MAN UTD 0
United in chaos after embarrassing goal and Bruno red card
BRU-GO
Fernandes SENT OFF just 90 secs after half-time vs Wolves in third red of season
STAR DIES
Welsh rugby legend dies aged 73 after battle with Motor Neurone disease

Ramsey tried to repay the favour by clipping over a cross that found the head of Bale but Cakir got down well to save.

Advertisement

Danny Ward was called upon to make a big save late on as he pushed away a header from Merih Demiral but in truth a point would have flattered the Turks.

And the points were safe in stoppage time when Bale wriggled free from a short corner and pulled back for Connor Roberts to steer home.

Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

Advertisement
Wales beat Turkey 2-0 at Euro 2020 to give them four points in Group A
Topics
Advertisement
machibet777.com