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Wales eased to a comfortable win in Azerbaijan to ensure their bid to qualify automatically for Euro 2020 will go down to the wire.
Kieffer Moore headed the dominant hosts into an early lead, which was doubled when Harry Wilson nodded into an empty net after Daniel James’ fierce swerving shot rebounded off the crossbar and post.
Wales maintained their control in the second half and, although Moore and Wilson missed the best chances to extend their advantage, it mattered little as Ryan Giggs’ side coasted to victory.
If Slovakia fail to win away against Croatia in Group E’s other game later on Saturday, Wales will qualify automatically with victory over Hungary in their final fixture in Cardiff on Tuesday.
They are already guaranteed a play-off place thanks to Sweden’s win over Romania in Group F on Friday.
But having suffered so many agonising qualifying near misses in the past, Wales will be eager to take the lottery of a play-off out of the equation by beating Hungary to secure what would be only their third appearance at a major tournament.
Wales fuel Euro 2020 hopes with strong start
Having waited 58 years between their first and second appearances – the 1958 World Cup and the heady success of Euro 2016 – Wales are anxious not to endure another long barren spell.
They travelled to Baku walking a qualification tightrope, knowing there was precious little room for error.
Although they were still relying on results elsewhere, Giggs and his players were aware that to have any realistic hope of qualifying automatically they had to win here and then against Hungary in Cardiff on Tuesday.
Wales wanted to control their own destiny as best they could, and they seized control of this match with a purposeful start.
Whereas Giggs’ side were hesitant and disjointed against the same opponents in September, here they were confident and dominant in possession.
They built their attacks patiently and made an early breakthrough as Harry Wilson’s looping corner to the back post was bundled in from close range by the enormous Moore.
The Wigan striker had a fine chance to score a second but his right foot was less effective than his head as his low shot was smothered by Emil Balayev in the Azerbaijan goal.
That was a rare misstep in an excellent display from Moore, who has already established himself as the focal point of Wales’ attack despite only making his debut in September.
The miss did not matter as, three minutes later, Wales doubled their advantage when James cut inside from the left wing and unleashed a vicious shot towards the top far corner. The ball cannoned off the crossbar and post before sitting up invitingly for Wilson, who nodded it into the empty net.
The goal put Wales in total control at half-time, giving Giggs the luxury of already turning his attention to Tuesday’s match against Hungary.
A job half done
Giggs admitted in the build-up to the match in Baku that he was planning for the fixture with one eye on the group finale in Cardiff.
Wales needed to win both matches so, although beating Azerbaijan was the initial priority, Giggs had to ensure his squad was poised to follow up this performance with a display of similar quality against tougher opposition in the form of Hungary.
That is why the former Wales and Manchester United captain left Aaron Ramsey on the bench at the Bakcell Arena.
A series of injuries meant the Juventus midfielder had not yet featured in this qualifying campaign, and his return to full fitness was regarded as a major boost for these two matches.
But like Gareth Bale, who had not played since last month’s draw with Croatia, Ramsey was lacking match fitness, which meant he would have to be managed carefully over the course of this double-header.
Wales’ position of strength in Baku meant they were able to take Bale off after an hour, limiting his exertions and ensuring he avoided a third yellow card of the campaign which would have caused him to miss the Hungary match through suspension.
Ramsey took his place, a useful 30-minute workout for the former Arsenal playmaker, while keeping him fresh for Tuesday’s crucial fixture.
Ramsey and Bale have not lost a qualifier while playing together since a 2-0 defeat in Bosnia-Herzegovina in October 2015, which was academic as Wales qualified for Euro 2016 that night anyway.
Against Hungary on Tuesday, Wales will hope to have them back on the pitch together for the first time since November 2018, with fingers crossed they can maintain their proud record in what will be a match of huge significance.
Man of the match – Kieffer Moore
Unbeaten run against Azerbaijan continues – the stats
- Wales are unbeaten in eight meetings against Azerbaijan, winning seven games and drawing once; they have faced no other side as many times without ever losing
- Azerbaijan are winless in 12 European Championship qualifying matches (D4 L8), and have failed to keep in a clean sheet in their last 10 such games.
- Wales have won a European Championship qualifying match away from home for the first time this campaign, having not done so since September 2015 vs Cyprus under Chris Coleman.
- Harry Wilson has both scored and assisted in the same game for Wales for the first time since March 2018 against China in the China Cup.
- Kieffer Moore has scored two goals in four appearances for Wales this season, one more goal than he has scored in 14 matches in 2019-20 for club side Wigan Athletic.
- Kieffer Moore had 10 shots against Azerbaijan, five of which were on target; the last Wales player to have as many in a single match was Aaron Ramsey vs Moldova in September 2017 (also 10).
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