Half-time switch helps Wales snatch US draw with late Bale penalty

AL RAYYAN, Qatar: Wales' talisman Gareth Bale scored a late penalty as they rallied in the second half to secure a 1-1 draw with the United States in an enthralling World Cup Group B clash at a raucous Ahmad bin Ali Stadium on Monday (Nov 21).

It was the proverbial game of two halves as the US went into the break with a deserved 1-0 advantage handed to them following a superb finish by Timothy Weah, the son of former World Player of the Year and current Liberia president George.

But a switch in tactics by Wales at the break to introduce target man Kieffer Moore changed the game and allowed them back into the contest, resulting in Bale scoring the 82nd minute penalty he had earned after being fouled.

"To go a goal behind against a good team like the US, we showed character, credit to the lads for coming back and getting a point," said Wales coach Rob Page.

"When we got the penalty we knew who was taking it, one million per cent. He’s never let us down has he? It’s all about Bale and rightly so."

Wales picked up their first point at the World Cup since their last appearance in 1958.

"It was 64 years but worth the wait," Page said. "To see the Red Wall (Wales supporters) celebrating was incredible."

The match was played in a fantastic atmosphere. Forget the valleys, the Welsh fans were drowning out Al Rayyan, but they met their match in the typically vocal American supporters, whose drum barely stopped beating.

The pattern of the first 45 minutes was US possession and Wales trapped in their own half, unable to find an escape route without a recognised number nine to hold up the ball.

Instead Bale and Dan James alternated down the middle with little joy and whenever they cleared the ball it came straight back. The pressure finally