Wales snatch last-gasp point in World Cup qualifier away to North Macedonia

David Brooks salvaged Wales a precious 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw against North Macedonia with almost the last kick of the match in Skopje.

Wales were the better side throughout but they suffered a sucker punch in a dramatic finish that saw North Macedonia score in the first minute of stoppage time.

Substitute Joe Allen’s horrible back pass was intended for Joe Rodon but was cut out by Bojan Miovski and he finished brilliantly, slotting the ball under Karl Darlow.

Wales seemed down and out but in the sixth extra minute Kieffer Moore got his head to a long ball and Brooks squeezed the ball across the line.

With favourites Belgium yet to kick a ball in Group J, it could still prove a costly draw for Wales in the race for an automatic place at the 2026 finals in Canada, Mexico and United States.

Brennan Johnson came closest to breaking the deadlock but his well-struck shot was hacked off the line by Visar Musliu.

Emotions were running high as this was North Macedonia’s first home fixture since 59 people died in a nightclub fire in the town of Kocani earlier this month.

A seven-day period of national mourning concluded on Sunday and the home players warmed up in black T-shirts remembering the victims.

A perfectly-observed minute’s silence was held before kick-off, both sides wore black armbands and Wales manager Craig Bellamy donned a black suit as a mark of respect.

Bellamy made three changes to the side that overcame Kazakhstan 3-1 in Cardiff on Saturday.

Chris Mepham, Jordan James and Nathan Broadhead were included as Connor Roberts, Brooks and Liam Cullen dropped out.

Skipper Ben Davies was the solitary survivor from the Wales side beaten 2-1 by North Macedonia in a World Cup qualifier in 2013, a game which was among