World Cup: Wales come back from a goal down to beat Scotland at Hampden Park
By Rebecca Stephenson (@1rebs). Last Updated: March 23, 2013 9:36am
Wales hit two goals in 93 seconds to beat Scotland 2-1 in their 2014 World Cup qualifier at Hampden Park, despite losing talisman Gareth Bale to an ankle injury at half time.
An Aaron Ramsey penalty and Hal Robson-Kanu's first goal for Wales saw Chris Coleman's side turn a half-time deficit into victory in a game which saw both sides finish with 10 men.
Robert Snodgrass saw red for a tackle on Chris Gunter that led to the penalty, and Ramsey followed suit in the last minute of stoppage time for a professional foul after he pulled down James McArthur when he was clean through.
Defender Grant Hanley gave the home side the lead against the run of play with a header from a Charlie Mulgrew corner at the end of the first half and the Scots, in Gordon Strachan's first competitive game in charge, looked a bit more comfortable after the break.
However, in the 70th minute Snodgrass was sent off for picking up his second yellow card of the game for a challenge on Welsh defender Gunter inside the home penalty area and Ramsey levelled from the spot. And just a minute later Robson-Kanu headed in the winner.
Strachan's plans were disrupted with only a couple of minutes gone when Steven Fletcher injured himself on the way down from an aerial challenge with Welsh defender Ben Davies.
The Sunderland striker looked in some distress and he was carried off on a stretcher to be replaced by veteran striker Kenny Miller.
Scotland were being outplayed and Wales enjoyed attack after attack as the snow continued to fall.
A decent move by the Scots in the 32nd minute ended up with Miller heading Snodgrass' cross over - and for the first time in the game Scotland looked as if they were getting up to speed.
And the Scots grabbed an unlikely lead when Hanley leapt at the back post to power a header from Mulgrew's corner past Boaz Myhill from six yards.
As conditions deteriorated, Wales kept coming forward and in the 70th minute Snodgrass recklessly conceded a penalty - and earned himself a second yellow card - for a challenge on Gunter in the box and Ramsey hammered the spot-kick in off the bar.
The Tartan Army were stunned but they had more to worry about barely a minute later when the unmarked Robson-Kanu headed Andy King's cross past Allan McGregor from six yards out.
There was to be no late rally from Strachan's men but there was time for Ramsey to pick up a straight red card for a last man foul on McArthur.
| Scotland | Team Statistics | Wales |
| 1 | Goals | 2 |
| 1 | 1st Half Goals | 0 |
| 1 | Shots on Target | 5 |
| 6 | Shots off Target | 0 |
| 3 | Blocked Shots | 6 |
| 4 | Corners | 5 |
| 15 | Fouls | 16 |
| 2 | Offsides | 3 |
| 2 | Yellow Cards | 2 |
| 1 | Red Cards | 1 |
| 78.2 | Passing Success | 87.6 |
| 18 | Tackles | 16 |
| 77.8 | Tackles Success | 87.5 |
| 34.5 | Possession | 65.5 |
| 50.3 | Territorial Advantage | 49.7 |
| 308 | Total Passes | 604 |
| 18 | Total Crosses | 17 |
| 126 | Lost Balls | 127 |
| 47 | Recoveries | 49 |
| 34.4 | 1st Half Poss. | 65.6 |
| 33.3 | 2nd Half Poss. | 66.7 |
Post Comment
LIVE and exclusive on Sky Sports
Matches
-
FIFA World Cup European Qualifying
Fri 22nd Mar - Group F
Fri 22nd Mar - Group B
Fri 22nd Mar - Group A
Fri 22nd Mar - Group E
Fri 22nd Mar - Group C
Fri 22nd Mar - Group D
Fri 22nd Mar - Group G
Fri 22nd Mar - Group H
Fri 22nd Mar - Group I
Tables
FIFA World Cup European Qualifying Group A
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Belgium | 6 | 16 |
| 2 | Croatia | 6 | 16 |
| 3 | Serbia | 6 | 7 |
| 4 | Wales | 6 | 6 |
| 5 | Macedonia | 6 | 4 |
| 6 | Scotland | 6 | 2 |
FIFA World Cup European Qualifying Group B
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Italy | 5 | 13 |
| 2 | Bulgaria | 6 | 10 |
| 3 | Czech Republic | 5 | 8 |
| 4 | Denmark | 5 | 6 |
| 5 | Armenia | 4 | 3 |
| 6 | Malta | 5 | 0 |
FIFA World Cup European Qualifying Group C
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germany | 6 | 16 |
| 2 | Austria | 5 | 8 |
| 3 | Sweden | 4 | 8 |
| 4 | Republic of Ireland | 5 | 8 |
| 5 | Kazakhstan | 6 | 1 |
| 6 | Faroe Islands | 4 | 0 |
FIFA World Cup European Qualifying Group D
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Netherlands | 6 | 18 |
| 2 | Hungary | 6 | 11 |
| 3 | Romania | 6 | 10 |
| 4 | Turkey | 6 | 7 |
| 5 | Estonia | 6 | 6 |
| 6 | Andorra | 6 | 0 |
FIFA World Cup European Qualifying Group E
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Switzerland | 5 | 11 |
| 2 | Iceland | 5 | 9 |
| 3 | Albania | 5 | 9 |
| 4 | Norway | 5 | 7 |
| 5 | Cyprus | 5 | 4 |
| 6 | Slovenia | 5 | 3 |
FIFA World Cup European Qualifying Group F
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Russia | 4 | 12 |
| 2 | Israel | 6 | 11 |
| 3 | Portugal | 6 | 11 |
| 4 | Northern Ireland | 5 | 3 |
| 5 | Azerbaijan | 6 | 3 |
| 6 | Luxembourg | 5 | 2 |
FIFA World Cup European Qualifying Group G
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bosnia | 5 | 13 |
| 2 | Greece | 5 | 10 |
| 3 | Slovakia | 5 | 8 |
| 4 | Lithuania | 5 | 5 |
| 5 | Latvia | 5 | 4 |
| 6 | Liechtenstein | 5 | 1 |
FIFA World Cup European Qualifying Group H
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montenegro | 6 | 14 |
| 2 | England | 6 | 12 |
| 3 | Poland | 5 | 8 |
| 4 | Ukraine | 5 | 8 |
| 5 | Moldova | 6 | 4 |
| 6 | San Marino | 6 | 0 |
FIFA World Cup European Qualifying Group I
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spain | 5 | 11 |
| 2 | France | 5 | 10 |
| 3 | Georgia | 5 | 4 |
| 4 | Belarus | 4 | 3 |
| 5 | Finland | 3 | 2 |
Related
Scotland v Wales
Miller: I won't grace finals
Kenny Miller concedes that his chances of gracing a major international tournament with Scotland appear to have passed.
Coleman won't gamble on Bale
Wales coach Chris Coleman has assured Tottenham Hotspur that he will not be gambling on Gareth Bale's fitness.
Maloney: Confidence is low
Shaun Maloney admits Scotland's confidence is at an all-time low following Friday's World Cup qualifying loss to Wales.
- Bellamy shows Strachan support
- Burke: Only positives to take
- Ramsey sorry after red card
- Bale expects to face Croatia
- Strachan rues wasted chance
- Coleman praises battling Wales
- Ledley gets ready for battle
- Jordan aware of Bale threat
- Scotland v Wales preview
- Wales optimistic about Bale
- Caldwell has Wales concerns
- Strachan's Scotland belief
- No revenge mission for Adam
- Vaughan out, Bale on track
- The gloves are off
