Wales scrape past Estonia in Tallinn - Ghana Latest Football News, Live Scores, Results

12 Oct 2021

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Wales scrape past Estonia in Tallinn Ghana Latest Football News Live Scores Results

Wales scraped past Estonia with an unconvincing win in Tallinn to keep their hopes of finishing second in their World Cup qualifying group in their own hands.Kieffer Moore poked in from a yard out to give his attack-minded, but defensively shaky side a ha

Wales scraped past Estonia with an unconvincing win in Tallinn to keep their hopes of finishing second in their World Cup qualifying group in their own hands.

Kieffer Moore poked in from a yard out to give his attack-minded, but defensively shaky side a half-time lead.

They became increasingly disjointed in the second half and were fortunate to preserve their lead as Estonia's Erik Sorga and Mattias Kait missed good chances.

The hosts, ranked 111th in the world, pressed gamely for the goal which would have earned them a second draw in a month against Wales, but Robert Page's men clung on for a crucial victory.

The Czech Republic's 2-0 win in Belarus keeps them second in Group E, ahead of Wales on goal difference but having played a game more.

With Belgium almost certain to secure the only automatic qualification spot as group winners, Wales are looking at the play-offs as their most realistic route to a first World Cup finals since 1958.

They are already effectively guaranteed a play-off place thanks to their success in the Nations League, but finishing second in this qualifying group could secure a more favourable draw in that knockout stage.

Wales finish their regular qualifying campaign with home matches against Belarus and Belgium next month, while the Czechs host Estonia in their final fixture.

Wales attack but shaky at the back

If Wales and the Czech Republic end on the same points total, second place will be decided by goal difference. With that in mind, Wales manager Page had said his side would go all-out attack in Estonia to avoid a repeat of the frustrating goalless draw in last month's reverse fixture in Cardiff.

Page supported his claim by selecting an attacking line-up in Tallinn, recalling playmaker Harry Wilson and handing a first start to Huddersfield winger Sorba Thomas, who was playing non-league football only nine months ago.

Estonia appeared to have similar intentions as Taijo Teniste registered the game's first shot on target after just 40 seconds, one of a handful of chances the home side were afforded by an occasionally erratic Welsh display in the first half.

Despite their defensive jitters, Wales were still the dominant force with Wilson firing a free-kick narrowly over and Connor Roberts seeing a fine curling effort well saved by Karl Hein.

From the resultant corner, Joe Rodon and Aaron Ramsey's headers prompted a scramble which led to the ball falling to Moore, who prodded it over the line from a yard out.

Moore had a backheel saved by Hein as Wales continued to pour forward but, like they did in the Czech Republic on Friday, Page's side also played themselves into trouble.

The pass of the half was unintentional as Wilson, inside his own penalty area, played the ball straight to Sergei Zenjov, who beat Wales goalkeeper Danny Ward with his shot but the covering Rodon was on hand to clear off the line.

Bloodied Wales hold on

The sloppier Wales' performance became, the less this game was about improving goal difference and more about simply preserving victory.

Estonia continued to threaten in the second half, with an unmarked Sorga heading narrowly over from Markus Poom's free-kick before Kait could only shoot straight at Ward from a promising position.

While still porous in defence, Wales also faded as an attacking force.

They might have had a penalty when Maarten Kuusk's flailing arm gave Moore a bloody nose inside the Estonia box but, although referee Sandro Scharer booked Kuusk, he did not award Wales a spot-kick after judging Moore to have committed the first foul.

Estonia were growing in confidence and substitute Vlasiy Sinyavskiy almost brought them level in the 77th minute with an arcing shot which was palmed away by Ward.

A rare Welsh counter-attack then saw substitute Mark Harris have a shot saved by Hein but Page's men spent the closing stages on the back foot.

They managed to repel Estonia's late attacks and, despite the frustration of another mediocre display against Estonia, this was still a valuable win to set Wales up for their two final group matches in Cardiff next month.

Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text

Line-upsEstonia

Formation 5-3-2

12Hein23Teniste15Paskotsi16Tamm2Kuusk3Pikk20Poom18Mets4Käit10Zenjov9Sorga

12Hein23TenisteSubstituted forOjamaaat 76'minutes15Paskotsi16Tamm2KuuskBooked at 59mins3PikkBooked at 24minsSubstituted forSinyavskiyat 57'minutes20Poom18Mets4KäitBooked at 31minsSubstituted forKallasteat 82'minutes10ZenjovSubstituted forVastsukat 82'minutes9SorgaSubstituted forKirssat 81'minutes

Substitutes

1Igonen6Lukka7Sinyavskiy11Ojamaa13Pürg17Kirss19Kallaste21Vastsuk22Vallner

Wales

Formation 3-5-2

12Ward5Mepham6Rodon15Ampadu14Roberts10Ramsey7Allen8Wilson17Thomas20James13Moore

12Ward5Mepham6Rodon15Ampadu14RobertsSubstituted forGunterat 83'minutes10RamseySubstituted forMorrellat 80'minutes7AllenBooked at 73mins8WilsonBooked at 34minsSubstituted forJohnsonat 83'minutes17ThomasBooked at 54mins20James13MooreBooked at 64minsSubstituted forM Harrisat 71'minutes

Substitutes

1Hennessey2Gunter3N Williams4Lawrence9Roberts11Williams16Morrell18M Harris19Vaulks21Davies22Johnson23Cabango

Referee:Sandro SchärerMatch StatsHome TeamEstoniaAway TeamWalesPossessionHome43%Away57%ShotsHome9Away14Shots on TargetHome4Away5CornersHome2Away4FoulsHome14Away13Live TextPost update

Match ends, Estonia 0, Wales 1.

90'+5'Full Time

Second Half ends, Estonia 0, Wales 1.

90'+3'Post update

Attempt missed. Brennan Johnson (Wales) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Daniel James.

90'+2'Post update

Sorba Thomas (Wales) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

90'+2'Post update

Foul by Henrik Ojamaa (Estonia).

89'Post update

Foul by Daniel James (Wales).

89'Post update

Vlasiy Sinyavskiy (Estonia) wins a free kick on the right wing.

85'Post update

Brennan Johnson (Wales) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

85'Post update

Foul by Vlasiy Sinyavskiy (Estonia).