Wales 2-1 Azerbaijan: Gareth Bale header gives Wales vital win in Group E

Wales vs Azerbaijan
European Qualifiers Group E
7:45pm Friday 6th September

Cardiff City Stadium

Gareth Bale spared Wales a shameful night in Euro 2020 qualifying with a winner in a 2-1 home victory .
Bale struck his 32nd goal for Wales six minutes from time, rising to head home following Joe Allen’s shot had been deflected high into the Cardiff atmosphere.
Mahir Emreli penalized a sloppy home display using a 58th-minute equaliser, although wales was gifted a first-half lead when a bizarre own goal was scored by Pavlo Pashayev.
Azerbaijan are ranked 109th in the world – a whopping 85 places below Wales – and their just wins came from the Faroe Islands and San Marino.
Bale fell deeper as Wales sought a path to goal, but there was little reason for controversy before Pashayev intervention.
Squeezed to the atmosphere and the Wales captain turned infield to strike a shot that struck Dmitry Nazarov. Salahat Agayev came rushing from his goal and the ball broke the mind of Pasahayev and trickled into an unprotected web, although azerbaijan appeared to have little to be concerned about.
Azerbaijan had their own moment of great luck when Emreli escaped on Chris Mepham, the Maltese referee again showing off his own lenient side using a swinging arm.
When Azerbaijan acquired a sucker punch wales struggled to get out of first gear. Neil Taylor’s mistake enabled Ramil Sheydaev to launch Emreli, that had the freedom of the Wales half to run into.
Emreli’s attempt was staged, however, Wayne Hennessey didn’t hold the shot and the rally was dispatched.
Wales poured forward in search of a winner, but time was running out until Bale – as he has done in the past – established their saviour.
Wales host Belarus on Monday night, live on Sky Sports Premier League from 7.40pm; kick-off at 7.45pm. Azerbaijan’s next match at home to Croatia can be live on Sky Sports Football in 4.55pm on Monday; kick-off in 5pm.

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