Wales 3 - 0 Romania

WALES under 21 football team produced a sensational 3-0 win over Romania in Iasi to clinch a place in the Uefa Championship play-offs. The seemingly unlikely victory means they have won Group 10 ahead of France, and will now be seeded for a favourable draw for the play-offs in October.

Those games will clash with the World Cup matches against Liechtenstein and Germany on October 11 and 15 respectively.

It will once again give senior boss John Toshack a selection headache as he will want to help the under-21s as much as he can by releasing senior squad players still young enough to help the cause.

But that is a problem for the future.

For now, Wales can celebrate a remarkable performance by arguably their best under-21 side in history.

Having needed three points from their last two group matches — both against the Romanians — to claim an unprecedented place in the play-offs for next summer's finals in Sweden, Wales looked like they had blown their chances a fortnight ago when they were beaten 1-0 by Romania in Wrexham.

On that night coach Brian Flynn had the benefit of all the senior squad players who still qualify for the under-21s.

Wayne Hennessey, Gareth Bale, Chris Gunter, Ched Evans and Sam Vokes were all called into the squad for the game at the Racecourse Ground.

But defeat, and the fact that senior boss John Toshack wanted all of those youngsters back in his squad for the World Cup qualifier against Russia in Moscow, meant that the odds were heavily stacked against Flynn's youngsters.

But with what would be considered almost a second-string side, the Welsh youngsters pulled off an amazing victory.

Inside 10 minutes of the match, the two players who had been with the seniors all week but returned to the under-21 ranks combined to put Wales ahead.

Arsenal youngster Aaron Ramsey sent over a corner and Middlesbrough defender Rhys Williams scored with a right-footer from eight yards. Wales lost Darcy Blake through injury after 18 minutes, with Wrexham's Mike Williams coming on, and the Welsh youngsters held out until half-time still ahead despite constant pressure.

But Wales slowly took control in the second period and on the hour they took a two-goal lead, again following a Ramsey corner. This time it was Reading youngster Simon Church who netted from just a couple of yards.

Eight minutes later the game was virtually over when Church and Mark Bradley combined to give Rhoys Wiggins a simple tap-in for the third.

Wales then held out for the final period with ease, to produce a great win that was greeted with celebrations among the senior squad and supporters who were keeping tabs on the match while in Moscow awaiting the World Cup tie.

Wales proud of U-21 side

Wales Under-21 boss Brian Flynn hailed his side's progress through to the play-offs for next year's Uefa European U21 Championships as "magnificent".

The youngsters beat Romania 3-0 in impressive style in Iasi to win Group 10 and seal a place in next month's play-offs, with the draw on Friday.

"The lads were absolutely magnificent from start to finish," Flynn said.

"Wales will be proud of them, I'm sure of that, as I am tonight."

Wales 0 - 1 Romania U-21 Qualifier

Wales Under-21 wasted a golden chance to seal a qualifying play-off place for next year's Uefa Championship finals after losing 1-0 to Romania in Wrexham.
Match report from BBC

Adrian Ropotan claimed the goal that gave Romania victory, Wales dozing as Gabriel Torje clipped in a free-kick. Brian Flynn's young side created a glut of chances but were unable to find the goal to seal their passage.

Wolves striker Sam Vokes was most culpable, putting over two first-half headers that he should have converted. Wales still lead Romania by a point at the top of Group 10 but the Romanians have a game in hand. However, qualification is still in Wales' hands as their final group game is the return in Romania on 9 September. Win that and a Wales team will still be in with a chance of making a major finals for the first time since the senior side featured at the 1958 World Cup.

Wales suffered an early scare when goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey hesitated as a free-kick arced in from the left. That sparked a goalmouth scramble but the big Wolves stopper redeemed himself with a fine block as the ball was fired towards the Wales net.

Wales composed themselves after that nervous start and soon had the alarm bells ringing at the Romanian end. Ched Evans drifted out to the left of the area and clipped in a reverse pass for strike partner Vokes, who could only find the midriff of goalkeeper Ciprian Tatarusanu with his scuffed shot.

Romania were generally solid through the middle of the park but were starting to be picked apart on the flanks, where Gareth Bale had licence to roam down either side.
Tottenham's £10m man carved out a great chance for Dave Edwards from one flowing attack down the right, although Tatarusanu was out of his goal quickly to smother the danger.

Romania continued to struggle with Wales' accurate crossing and only survived because Vokes was having a poor night in front of goal. The Wolves frontman wasted two gilt-edged opportunities to head Wales in front. First Vokes flashed a strong chance just over the bar, after the hard-working Evans had again worked space for himself to curl a cross onto his team-mate's forehead.

Then as the half-hour mark approached it was Bale providing the ammunition, only for Vokes to again head over from even closer in. Despite some pleasing football played by both sides the game remained deadlocked at the break.

The half was marred only by a late scuffle sparked by Evans sliding in on keeper Tatarusanu as he chased a loose ball, both players booked for their troubles.

Wales continued their dominance after the restart, with Shaun MacDonald and Bale both drawing saves from the busy Tatarusanu. Bale also failed to connect with a Darcy Blake cross that flashed across the face of goal.

But then on 65 minutes Wales were caught by a sucker-punch as they went to sleep at a Romanian set-piece. The red shirts were static as Torje curled in a free-kick that found Dinamo team-mate Ropotan free in the Wales area. Ropotan flicked out a foot and claimed the goal - although there was some doubt he made contact - as the ball bounced into the bottom corner past the left hand of the despairing Hennessey.

Wales redoubled their efforts and Rhys Williams almost rescued a point with seven minutes left, only for the Middlesbrough defender to see his shot deflected onto the Romania crossbar.

Then in the dying moments Bale unleashed a rocket that seemed destined for the back of the net, only for Tatarusanu to fly across his goal to palm the ball away.

Wales under 21 squad for Romania

Wales Under-21 squad to face Romania:

Date> 20th August 2008
Venue> Racecourse Ground, Wrexham

Wayne Hennessey (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Owain Fon Williams (Stockport County), Mike Williams (Wrexham), Rhys Williams (Middlesbrough), Darcy Blake (Cardiff City), John Brown (Cardiff City), Lloyd James (Southampton), Chris Gunter (Tottenham Hotspur), Rhoys Wiggins (Crystal Palace), Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal), Joe Ledley (Cardiff City), Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur), David Edwards (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Shaun MacDonald (Swansea City), Mark Bradley (Walsall), Sam Vokes (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Ched Evans (Manchester City), Simon Church (Reading)

Stand-By: Jonathan North (Watford), Andy King (Leicester City), Nicky Adams (Leicester City), Josh Klein Davies (Bristol Rovers)

Wales Under 21 Football Squad

Wales Under-21 football squad for the qualification games against Romania :

Wayne Hennessey (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Owain Fon Williams (Stockport County)
Rhys Taylor (Chelsea)
Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur)
Neal Eardley (Oldham Athletic)
Chris Gunter (Tottenham Hotspur)
Grant Basey (Charlton Athletic)
Darcy Blake (Cardiff City)
Lewin Nyatanga (Derby County)
Christian Ribeiro (Bristol City)
Rhoys Wiggins (Crystal Palace)
Joe Jacobson (Bristol Rovers)
Mike Williams (Wrexham)
Rhys Williams (Middlesbrough)
Nicky Adams (Leicester City)
Mark Bradley (Walsall)
Jack Collison (West Ham United)
David Edwards (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Andy King (Leicester City)
Joe Ledley (Cardiff City)
Shaun MacDonald (Swansea City)
Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal)
Jonathan Brown (Cardiff City)
Simon Church (Reading)
David Cotterill (Sheffield United)
Craig Davies (Oldham Athletic)
Ched Evans (Manchester City)
Sam Vokes (Wolverhampton Wanderers)

The U21s face Romania in Wrexham on 20 August and again in Iasi on 9 September

Wales 4 - 2 France, U21 Football

Manchester City FC striker Ched Evans scored a memorable hat-trick as Wales came from behind to edge a thrilling UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifier against Group 10 favourites France in Cardiff.

France comeback
After a start delayed by floodlight problems at Ninian Park, Evans lit the way for the home side as he set them on course for an unlikely victory just before half-time, capitalising on a weak back-pass from Younes Kaboul, rounding the goalkeeper and tapping in. France were unlucky to go into the interval behind and more than redressed the balance with two goals in five minutes midway through the second half, a Yoann Gourcuff penalty followed by a Dimitri Payet effort. Yet Wales hit back with a quickfire double of their own as Evans kept his cool with a spot-kick before Mark Bradley made it 3-2. Evans made the points safe in added time, sliding in the third penalty of the night.

Wales on course for Sweden U21 finals

Match report and reaction from The Western Mail

WALES U21 manager Brian Flynn admitted his team needed every ounce of their resilience to chisel a vital and darmatic European Championship victory against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Sarajevo.

Reading striker Simon Church came off the bench to equalise four minutes from time and Manchester City forward Ched Evans rifled home the winner two minutes later.

The amazing finish denied a gutsy Bosnia-Herzegovina outfit, who had led through Boubacar Dialiba Diabang's second-half strike.

The result means Wales remain firmly on track for the finals in Sweden next summer.

Having previously beaten France 4-2 at Ninian Park, Wales now require one victory over Romania from a double header in August and September to make October's play-offs.

Wales have not reached the final stages of a major tournament since the World Cup in Sweden in 1958, and a triumphant Flynn could not hide his delight.

"Make no mistake, this was a huge result for us," said Flynn after Wales had completed a Group 10 double over Bosnia.

"I told the boys that we needed to come here and win and this is what we have done.

"No victory is easy away in Europe and we certainly made things difficult for ourselves.

"We didn't perform to the standard that I know that we are capable of. But Bosnia made it hard for us.

"They restricted us to three scoring chances and fortunately two of our efforts went into the net."

Flynn admitted he was anxious with the clock running down and his young Welsh players in danger of blowing their qualification hopes.

"I feared the worst at one point," he said. "But Simon Church did very well when he came on.

"We operate an 18-man squad and everyone has played their part in taking us to the top of our qualification group.

"We now play Romania at Wrexham next and I can't wait for that. The pity of it is that this game falls into next season."

Former Wrexham and Swansea boss Flynn expected a new-look Bosnia team to push his charges hard in Sarajevo.

"We have scored late goals throughout our qualification campaign - we were forced to do this in the away match in Malta and the home game against Bosnia," he added.

"You sometimes have to win ugly and that's what happened here.

"We made things difficult for ourselves at times but in the end, my side came through for me. I'm absolutely delighted."

Flynn brought in Tottenham youngster Chris Gunter - released from the senior squad in Luxembourg to play here - at right-back for Darcy Blake in the only change from last month's 4-0 win in Malta.

Wales had hammered Bosnia 4-0 in the reverse fixture at the Racecourse Ground last November, but the hosts' pacy attack was a major threat early on.

Wrexham's Mike Williams had a first-half "goal" ruled out for shoving at a Joe Jacobson corner as the opening period ended goalless. That looked a costly decision as, after a first half of few chances, Wales' fifth straight group win appeared a world away when Diabang struck in the 58th minute.

Welsh goalkeeper Owain Fon Williams should have done better with Diabang's low 20-yard shot - but it somehow squirted from his grasp and into the net.

The keeper's embarrassment was eased when Wales desperately poured forward in the final stages.

With time fast running out, Church drilled home the equaliser to give Wales what looked a share of the spoils.

But, incredibly two minutes later, Evans - who has spent most of the season on loan at Championship club Norwich - struck his seventh goal of the campaign to put Wales four points ahead of Romania ahead of the two nations' double-header.

The Romanians have a game in hand but Wales' qualification destiny remains very much in their hands.