Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Moldova vs Wales - Chisinau, Moldova - September 5, 2017 Wales' Hal Robson-Kanu in action with Moldova's Gheorghe Anton Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
(Reuters) - A wasteful Wales scored two late goals to beat Moldova 2-0 in their World Cup qualifier on Tuesday as a diving header by Hal Robson-Kanu and a deflected Aaron Ramsey strike spared their blushes against Group D's bottom side.
With group rivals Ireland slumping to a 1-0 defeat at home to Serbia, the result lifted Wales into second place ahead of the Irish, with the two sides set to meet in their final qualifying game in Cardiff in October.
Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Moldova vs Wales - Chisinau, Moldova - September 5, 2017 Wales' Hal Robson-Kanu celebrates scoring their first goal Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
Though Moldova were stubborn in defence, Wales did not lack chances.
They managed to waste every opportunity they had in the opening 45 minutes, however, with Gareth Bale, Ramsey and Robson-Kanu all spurning chances to break the deadlock.
The visitors stepped up their assault in the second half, with Wales manager Chris Coleman sending on 17-year-old Ben Woodburn, who scored the only goal of the game in his international debut against Austria on Saturday, on the hour mark.
Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Moldova vs Wales - Chisinau, Moldova - September 5, 2017 Wales' Hal Robson-Kanu shoots at goal Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
The young Liverpool forward did not get his name on the scoresheet this time but did manage to provide the cross for Robson-Kanu to score the all-important breakthrough goal in the 80th minute.
Moldova twice went close late on, but a strike from Ramsey that cannoned off a defender's foot and arced into the net secured all three points for the visitors.
Serbia top the group on 18 points with Wales, who travel to Georgia next, four points behind and the Irish, who meet Moldova in Dublin before travelling to Cardiff, in third on 13.
Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Moldova vs Wales - Chisinau, Moldova - September 5, 2017 Wales' Aaron Ramsey in action with Moldova's Gheorghe Anton Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
(Reporting by Philip O'Connor in Stockholm; Editing by Toby Davis)
Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Moldova vs Wales - Chisinau, Moldova - September 5, 2017 Wales' James Chester in action Action Images via Reuters/Jason CairnduffSoccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Moldova vs Wales - Chisinau, Moldova - September 5, 2017 Wales' Ben Davies in action Action Images via Reuters/Jason CairnduffSoccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Moldova vs Wales - Chisinau, Moldova - September 5, 2017 Wales' Aaron Ramsey shoots at goal Action Images via Reuters/Jason CairnduffSoccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Moldova vs Wales - Chisinau, Moldova - September 5, 2017 Wales' Hal Robson-Kanu heads at goal Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
