UEFA Nations League Wales 4-1 Iceland: Craig Bellamy's side claim impressive win to secure UEFA Nations League promotion
- FlashFootball 2024/11/20 01:44
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In a fantastic result for Welsh football, Craig Bellamy's team secured promotion to the top table of the UEFA Nations League. Wales came back strong after going down a goal to secure a solid win over Iceland. That result, along with Turkey's surprising loss to Montenegro, was enough to grab the top spot in the group. Liam Cullen scored two goals to help Wales win the match.
Liam Cullen was the man of the moment, scoring two goals as Wales came from behind to beat Iceland 4-1 and secure promotion to the top tier of the UEFA Nations League. Going into the final match, Craig Bellamy's team knew that a win and any dropped points for Turkey would guarantee them promotion and avoid a play-off game.
They had to fight back from behind. Andri Gudjohnsen, son of Eidur, put Age Hareide's visitors in front on eight minutes with a neat finish between Danny Ward's legs. This was after the Leicester City goalkeeper had kept out Orri Oskarsson in superb fashion.
Wales were level just after the half-hour mark as Cullen stole in and glanced a deft header into the far corner from Brennan Johnson's inswinging cross. He was at the double on the stroke of half-time, sliding in to convert the rebound after Dan James had been initially denied by Hakon Valdirmarsson following good link-up play with Mark Harris.
Tottenham Hotspur's Johnson, who's been in great form recently, made it three with 65 minutes on the clock. Cullen played a sublime pass into the path of the winger, who finished with aplomb.
Harry Wilson, the Fulham midfielder, brought his impressive club form to the international stage with a stunning goal from outside the area, set up by Cullen. Cullen showed great determination to make a long punt from Ward stick and hold off Iceland centre-back Sverrir Ingason.
Wales had done everything they could to secure promotion, and luck was on their side. Montenegro beat Turkey in the other game, confirming The Dragons as group winners and condemning Turkey to the play-offs.
Previously, the Welsh team might have crumbled under pressure when going a goal down in such an important game. Not this time, though, not under Bellamy.
The former Manchester City and West Ham United forward has been unbeaten in his role as Welsh manager, and he has given this young Wales side a newfound belief, as they lack the experience of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey.
Instead, they have their new players stepping up – Johnson, Cullen, Joe Rodon and the rest – and they're heading into Europe's top tier to take on the continent's elites once more.
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