Neco Williams made it a home debut to remember for Wales with a stoppage time header that sealed victory over Bulgaria and put his country in control of their Nations League group.
The Liverpool youngster had come on as a second-half substitute and was impressive until he crowned it with a charge from right-back into the penalty area and a firm header to direct fellow substitute Jonny Williams’ cross into the net – his first senior goal.
Earlier this week, Wrexham-born Williams, 19, revealed he had been courted by England as he rose through the Welsh youth ranks but made it clear he had no intention of switching allegiance. He is already starting to show Gareth Southgate what he might have missed out on.
Wales left it late again in the Nations League when Neco Williams netted to defeat Bulgaria
The Liverpool full back was the unlikely hero after he steered home Jonny Williams' delivery
The hosts were almost unable to conjure up a moment of magic in the dramatic win in Cardiff
MATCH FACTS
Wales: Hennessey, Roberts (N. Williams 65), Lockyer, Ampadu, Davies, Smith, Morrell, Bale, Brooks (J. Williams 76), James, Moore (Robson-Kanu 61)
Subs not used: Gunter, Cabango, Lawrence, Levitt, Wilson, Ward, Matondo, Davies, Vaulks
Goals: Williams 90+4
Bookings: Smith, Williams
Manager: Ryan Giggs
Bulgaria: Georgiev, Cicinho, Dimitrov, Nedyalkov, Goranov, Kostadinov, Karabelyov, Karagaren, Nedelev (Krastev 82), Ivanov (Delev 70), Kraev (Iliev 61)
Subs not used: S. Popov, V. Popov, Rabotov, Mihaylov, Galabov, Kovachev, Isa, Tsvetkov, Lukov
Bookings: Kostadinov
Manager: Georgi Dermendzhiev
Williams’ goal was a rare moment of excitement in a desperately dull match – but boss Ryan Giggs will not care as he side followed their 1-0 win in Finland last Thursday and stretched their unbeaten run to eight matches.
Until that moment, not even Gareth Bale had been able to lift Wales. Bale has now started as many games for his country in the last seven days as he has in the last seven months for Real Madrid but it is safe to say this was a match the skipper – who played the full game – will quickly forget.
The closest Wales came in the regular 90 minutes was when David Brooks, playing his first international for more than a year, hit the outside of the post with 15 minutes remaining. That was one of very few chances in a game which – perhaps understandably given the tough club season ahead – was rarely played above jogging pace.
Given his lack of playing time in Madrid, Bale will have been delighted to see some proper action though he, like the other Wales attackers, struggled to make a sustained impact.
Ryan Giggs has led Wales on a strong unbeaten streak and his side found the breakthrough
Gareth Bale attempted to threaten with a free-kick but the Wales talisman was left frustrated
Bale later suffered an injury scare to his knee after a challenge but had been able to carry on
On the half-hour mark, Bale combined with Brooks on the right before unleashing a curling effort that was blocked almost at source by Yanis Karabelyov.
Brooks himself had a fine chance to put Wales ahead just before half-time when he latched on to Kristian Dimitrov’s poor defensive header, only to volley well wide from a central position just outside the box.
Unfortunately for Wales, that was one of few defensive errors from the visitors, with Giggs’ men lacking the imagination to open them up. Brooks came the closest when he swapped passes with Daniel James inside the box with a quarter of an hour remaining. His left foot shot was good but a whisker off target as it clipped the outside of the post.
Bale sent a 30-yard drive narrowly over in stoppage time and at that stage Bulgaria looked like getting the point they came for. But then Jonny Williams wriggled free on the left and his delivery was perfect for his namesake, who ensured the drudgery that went before was instantly forgotten.
Full back Ben Davies later challenged Yanis Karabelyov for a header inside Wales' penalty area
