Key occasions
GOAL! Wales 4-1 Iceland (Wilson 79)
Iceland have misplaced the collective noggin, and Wilson takes benefit! Ingason is simply too busy wrestling with Cullen underneath a protracted ball down the center. It permits Wilson, arriving as they battle on the turf, to tear clear! He opens his physique and lashes a shot throughout Valdimarsson and into the right-hand aspect of the web. Recreation over! Group B4 certainly over!
77 min: In the meantime right here’s what appears just like the Group B4 clincher: Nikola Krstovic has accomplished his hat-trick for Montenegro in opposition to Turkey! It’s 3-1 in Nikšić too, and until both Iceland or Turkey make a two-goal comeback, Wales can be promoted to Group A this night!
75 min: Iceland in the meantime make two modifications. Sampsted can’t proceed, so Thórhallsson comes on for him, whereas the freshly booked Thorsteinsson additionally makes method, for Willumsson. As Thorsteinsson departs, replays present his function within the current rammy: in comedic vogue, he had each fists full of blouse, one containing Rodon’s, the opposite Johnson’s. All good knockabout enjoyable.
73 min: James clanks Sampsted to the ground, then, earlier than the referee can do something about it, finds himself hooked for Thomas.
71 min: Traustason slides in aggressively on the in-flight Wilson. It’s a poor problem, with little or no try made to win the ball. Johnson arrives on the scene to have his say, and briefly considers throwing fingers. Thorsteinsson stops him going too far, however all three find yourself within the e book for his or her diversified roles within the brouhaha.
70 min: Gudjohnsen is upended as he meanders down the left. The ensuing free kick is looped into the field, however handled within the no-fuss vogue by Davies.
69 min: Welsh tails are correctly up now. Johnson, stuffed with confidence, swaggers in from the suitable touchline and makes house for himself on the sting of the field. An excessive amount of confidence, although? He makes an attempt to move a shot into the web by a crowded field, which is fairly formidable and simply blocked.
67 min: … and now James goes into the e book for an over-enthusiastic 50-50 high-kick with Sampsted.
66 min: Fridriksson is booked for arguing the toss over the problem on Thórdarson, although his power can be higher spent booting his dozy team-mate up the opening. His coach Åge Hareide can also be carded for getting concerned.
GOAL! Wales 3-1 Iceland (Johnson 65)
Cullen snaffles the ball off a snoozing Thórdarson in midfield, then slips Johnson away down the within proper. Johnson enters the field, attracts Valdimarsson, and slots throughout the keeper and into the underside left. Cardiff erupts!
65 min: A primary change by Wales. Mark Harris is changed by Joe Allen. After which …
64 min: Williams drives down the suitable, shimmies to make somewhat little bit of house forward of Fridriksson, and completely lotions a low cross into the mixer. Any deflection and Wales may very well be doubling their lead, however Valdimarsson reveals secure fingers to gather.
62 min: Let you know what, although, Iceland are lacking Óskarsson. He’d certainly have snaffled at the very least one of many a number of possibilities Iceland have carved out this night.
60 min: … Wales counter at velocity by Wilson, who is obvious down the left. However he smashes his shot straight at Valdimarsson. Then Iceland counter the counter, and Thorsteinsson slices broad left from 12 yards! There’s certainly no method this ends 2-1. It’s absurdly open. Extra, please!
59 min: An extended ball down the Iceland proper. Gudjohnsen hooks it throughout from the byline. Thorsteinsson tries to show it residence with a cute Curtis Jones flick, however doesn’t fairly catch it and Rodon hoicks clear for a nook. And from that …
58 min: Johannesson is clipped by Sheehan, who’s lucky not to enter the e book. Craig Bellamy doesn’t even assume it’s a foul, and will get concerned in some back-and-forth with the referee. We play on.
56 min: Valdimarsson doesn’t have any work to do at this one, as a result of Cabango concedes a foul for pushing and shoving. However Wales come once more, with James crossing from the left. Valdimarsson claims underneath extreme stress from Johnson. Each groups taking flip to push for the dynamic-changing subsequent objective.
55 min: Williams probes down the suitable however can’t fairly get a shot away. The play’s switched to James on the left. He shoots. Deflected out for a nook that’s taken rapidly. From the set piece, Davies heads goalwards from shut vary. Valdimarsson does effectively to parry. One other nook arising!
53 min: Iceland are on the entrance foot once more. They’ll little doubt have mentioned the numerous possibilities handed up within the first half, and the way effectively they performed within the second interval in Reykjavik the opposite month. And at the very least they don’t have to fret about computerized relegation.
51 min: Ellertsson takes a whack from distance. Ward suggestions over. Then from the nook, Gudjohnsen misses one other first rate half-chance from the left-hand nook of the six-yard field, earlier than Thorsteinsson whips broad proper from the sting of the field. That wasn’t far off, however Ward had it coated.
50 min: … and a kind of choices, James, takes out his frustration by looking for the top-right nook from the perfect a part of 30 yards. Full marks for ambition.
49 min: Some critical house for Johnson down the suitable, however he runs slap-bang into the closest defender. There have been choices within the center as effectively.
47 min: All a bit shapeless initially of the second interval. “Watching the boys of summer time 2016 has me feeling a bit nostalgic for previous glories,” writes Kári Tulinius. “That mentioned, the second half they performed in opposition to Wales final time was the perfect I’ve seen Iceland play in a very long time, and gave me faint hope they’ll make it to the following main match. It gained’t be as particular as 2016, however that’s tremendous, I’ll at all times have these reminiscences, even when somewhat voice inside my head says: ‘Don’t look again, you’ll be able to by no means look again.’” You gained’t need to relive each minute of this, then? It’s there for you, simply in case.
Wales get the second half underway. No modifications for Wales, however Stefán Teitur Thórdarson replaces Iceland captain Johann Gudmundsson.
If each matches had been to complete now, that is how the Group B4 desk would look.
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Wales P6 W3 D3 L0 F7 A4 Pts 12
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Turkey P6 W3 D2 L1 F9 A5 Pts 11
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Iceland P6 W2 D1 L3 F10 A11 Pts 7
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Montenegro P6 W1 D0 L5 F3 A9 Pts 3
As issues stand, Wales can be promoted to League A tonight! Turkey would go into the pot for the League A/B play-offs, whereas Iceland face participation within the League B/C play-offs. An extended strategy to go – 45 minutes plus stoppages in each Cardiff and Nikšić, to be sort-of actual – however Wales supporters may as effectively chill out and luxuriate in this desk for the following jiffy at the very least.
HALF TIME: Wales 2-1 Iceland
… and it’s additionally HALF TIME: Montenegro 2-1 Turkey. Properly, effectively, effectively, effectively, effectively.
GOAL! Wales 2-1 Iceland (Cullen 45+1)
Wilson snaps right into a sort out in midfield, sending Harris driving down the center. Harris lays off to JAmes on his left. James shoots. Valdimarsson blocks, however the ball springs out to Cullen, who extends a leg to poke previous the determined keeper, and take a look at Wales now! (Or extra to the purpose, in a few minutes, once I can write up the desk!)
45 min: There can be two further first-half minutes. And within the first …
44 min: James whips in a cross from the left. Valdimarsson claims confidently underneath stress from Johnson. Then Wilson dances in from the suitable and shoots low, however the keeper gathers once more. In the meantime in Montenegro, the hosts have retaken the lead! It’s Nikola Krstovic as soon as extra, and hopes of computerized promotion for Wales are as soon as once more alive.
42 min: A little bit house for Johnson simply to the suitable of the Iceland D. He goals for the highest proper. Valdimarsson palms strongly across the submit, and nothing comes of the ensuing nook. Each groups doing all they’ll to attain; it’s a recreation pleasantly freed from faff. This has been a very entertaining worldwide break, and a method or one other, Wales have contributed as a lot as anyone.
41 min: … and in Cardiff, Iceland are racking up the missed possibilities. A cross is available in from the left. Johannesson, on the far submit, cushions it right down to Gudjohnsen on the penalty spot. He slices broad. He arguably ought to have a hat-trick.
39 min: In the meantime again in Montenegro, Kenan Yildiz equalises for Turkey.
