Wales' hopes of finishing third in Euro 2008 qualifying Group D were dealt a blow as they slumped to a 3-1 defeat in Cyprus.
Toshack's men stunned by Cyprus fightback
Wales' hopes of finishing third in Euro 2008 qualifying Group D were dealt a blow as they slipped to a 3-1 defeat in Cyprus.
Although Cyprus put Wales under pressure throughout the first half they lacked a cutting edge, and John Toshack's side were much more direct in possession.
James Collins broke the deadlock in the 21st minute as he escaped his marker at the back post and coolly guided a volley past Antonis Georgallides from Gareth Bale's left-wing free-kick.
Yiannakis Okkas saw a goal harshly disallowed for offside in the first minute of the second half, but he did not have to wait long to get on the scoresheet as he headed home an equaliser after 59 minutes.
Okkas smashed home a second from close range in the 68th minute, before substitute Costas Charalambides completed the fightback with a header 11 minutes from time.
It could have been more embarrassing as the chances reigned in on the Welsh goal as the visitors' resolve wilted under the pressure.
Tense first half
Apart from Collins' soft goal, Wales created very little in the first half while the Cypriots came close when a Marios Nicolaou header flashed wide and another header from Alexandros Garpozis found Danny Coyne's grasp rather than the net.
After the interval the home side cranked up the tempo as they searched for an equaliser but it was Craig Bellamy who nearly doubled the lead on 54 minutes when his lifted shot was acrobatically palmed away by keeper Georgallides.
Finally, Cyprus got a deserved goal to level the game when Okkas headed past keeper Daniel Coyne on the hour.
The second came less than 10 minutes later when Okkas slammed the ball over the line after Efstathios Aloneftis had bundled the ball around the keeper.
Beyond doubt
Charalambides, of Germans Carl Zeiss Jena, put the result beyond doubt with a bullet header inside the six-yard box on 79 minutes.
The also-rans in Group D had nothing but pride to play for and Cyprus were aiming to extend an impressive home record, apart from the 3-1 blip against Slovakia.
Cyprus started with an attack-minded line-up with four forwards hoping to stretch the Welsh defence.
And the speedy Aloneftis, who plays for Energie Cottbus in the Bundesliga, caused continual problems down the left while Okkas was always a handful.
Wales looked to break on the counter by utilising the pace of captain Bellamy, playing his first competitive gamer following a groin injury.
Cyprus now travel to Ireland on Wednesday.
| Cyprus |
Team Statistics |
Wales |
|
| 3 |
Goals |
1 |
|
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
1 |
|
| 6 |
Shots on Target |
2 |
|
| 11 |
Shots off Target |
2 |
|
| 4 |
Blocked Shots |
0 |
|
| 9 |
Corners |
0 |
|
| 14 |
Fouls |
20 |
|
| 7 |
Offsides |
3 |
|
| 2 |
Yellow Cards |
2 |
|
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
|
| 86.2 |
Passing Success |
76.5 |
|
| 21 |
Tackles |
18 |
|
| 85.7 |
Tackles Success |
94.4 |
|
| 62.7 |
Possession |
37.3 |
|
| 58.1 |
Territorial Advantage |
41.9 |
|
|
