Wales rescued a dramatic point from the jaws of defeat after David Brooks‘ leveller against North Macedonia.
The hosts came into the contest off the back of a comfortable victory in Liechtenstein in FIFA World Cup qualification, but, tragically, this was also the first home game since the Kočani nightclub fire, which killed 59 people and injured over 150 others on March 16th.
An emotionally-charged evening was largely not reflected in the first forty-five minutes. A tight, congested half where neither side fashioned out any clear cut chances.
Though the match opened up in the second half, with chances aplenty for both sides. Despite going close a number of times towards the end, the Red Lynxes went ahead in the 91st minute after a costly back pass from Joe Allen allowed Bojan Miovski to put them in front.
It was not to be for the Macedonians, however, as Brooks connected with a knock down from Keiffer Moore to score the latest of late equalisers and keep manager Craig Bellamy unbeaten for an eighth straight game.
Both sides are now on four points in Group J with North Macedonia just ahead of goal difference.
North Macedonia made two alterations from the trip to Liechtenstein as Bojan Ilievski and Tihomir Kostadinov came into the starting eleven. Wales, meanwhile, made a triple change from the win over Kazakhstan, with Nathan Broadhead, Chris Mepham, and Jordan James.
And it was James who got things going early doors, lashing a long shot off the palms of Stole Dimitrievski within thirty seconds. It set the tone to an energetic start to affairs as both sides sought to press high and move the ball quickly.
But the combative styles meant it proved tricky for either to get any rhythm in the opening half hour.
A short break just shy of the half-hour mark enabled Wales to reconvene. Shortly afterwards, following their first substantial slice of possession, James darted into the penalty area and pulled a cross over to an onrushing Sorba Thomas, who could only direct it back across the goal.
Josh Sheehan had a distant shot easily caught as momentum edged towards Bellamy’s men.
The home crowd grew increasingly perturbed with the visitors’ chances, fuelling a brief Macedonian fightback that included an outrageous volley from Ezgjan Alioski which sailed over the bar.
The second half sprang into life after Daniel James‘ jinking dribble afforded him space for a low cross, which bobbled a whisker wide of the post after Visar Musliu missed his clearance.
A couple of counter attacks, led by Brennan Johnson and Thomas respectively, ended in wasted efforts on goal but signified a more open spell, akin to the first ten minutes.
At the other end, Elif Elmas planted a curling shot straight onto the head of Joe Rodon. Elmas turned provider for the Red Lynxes in their next best chance. His cross alluded the Welsh defence, who were otherwise reliable aerially, to find substitute Darko Churlinov, who forced Karl Darlow into his first real test of the evening.
On seventy minutes, Thomas blitzed his way to the byline and managed to force a looping ball into the box, which was sloppily dealt with by Dimitrievski. Johnson’s snapped volley was cleared off the line by Musliu.
In the latter stages, momentum swung in favour of North Macedonia. Enis Bardhi had a well-worked effort blocked by Rodon before setting up another opportunity ten minutes from time.
The captain’s deft chip inside the box set up Alioski for a shot-cum-cross that swept across the face of the goal. Much to the relief of the Dragons, it also missed two unmarked forwards at the back post.
The culmination of the mounting pressure came as the clock ticked onto the 90. Substitute Joe Allen’s dreadful back pass put the goal at the mercy of Miovski. The Girona forward coolly slid the ball past Darlow to send the stadium into delirium.
Though that was not to be the final act of such a tense night, Wales kept pushing well into injury time.
Neco Williams‘ searching ball up top found the head of Moore, who knocked it down to a sparsely defended six-yard box, where David Brooks delicately tapped in an equaliser. Hysteria now gripping the away end instead.
- Player of the Match – Joe Rodon
Despite picking up a cheap yellow card, Rodon was at the heart of Welsh defence that was under strain for large parts of the second half.
The Leeds United man made some crucial interventions to prevent North Macedonia from making good on the opportunities they carved out.