Classy James gives Wales win over Belarus

Excellent, but if I was greedy I'd want more goals - Wales boss Ryan Giggs

Daniel James' high-class finish gave Wales victory in their friendly against Belarus as Ryan Giggs' team claimed a fourth successive home win.

The winger has made a spectacular start to life at Manchester United after joining from Swansea City in the summer.

And James, 21, reproduced his club form on the international stage to hand Wales a deserved triumph.

In what is swiftly becoming a trademark move, the £15m United signing cut inside on to his right foot before curling the ball inside the far post.

Giggs had urged his players to build some momentum after the hard-earned Euro 2020 qualifying triumph over Azerbaijan on Friday.

They responded with a bright performance which should really have produced a more comfortable win - although just 7,666 fans were there to see it.

In the Cardiff City Stadium's 10-year history, only one game - the 2-1 defeat by Australia in 2011 - has attracted a smaller crowd.

Heading in the right direction?

Gareth Bale had two good chances to double Wales' lead after replacing scorer Daniel James

Gareth Bale insisted going into this game that Wales are moving forward under Giggs, who has now won seven of his 15 games in charge.

After criticism of Wales' performance in the win over Azerbaijan, the Real Madrid forward said Giggs is trying to produce a national side who play quick, attacking football.

They struggled on that score last Friday, when Azerbaijan sat deep and Wales made hard work of breaking them down.

Even with the talismanic Bale watching from the bench until the 50th minute, it was a different story against Belarus.

Wales needed only 17 minutes to expose their opponents on the counter-attack.

There was a warning for Belarus early on when Joe Allen led a sharp Welsh break and Harry Wilson drove goalwards.

Goalkeeper Maksim Plotnikov made a decent save, but he was helpless when Joe Morrell fed Jonny Williams and he sent James scampering down the left.

James' shot left the Belarus keeper grasping thin air and his goal was comfortably the most memorable moment of the first half.

He made way for Bale as Wales' control of the contest continued, with Wilson going close when a short-corner routine ended with his cross-shot coming back off the far post.

Daniel James came off his left wing to beat Maskim Plotnikov in the far corner

Kieffer Moore then headed wide before Bale missed when he looked certain to score having been picked out by Wilson.

As Bale pointed out, of course, the key objective is to claim a place at Euro 2020 - and what happened here will have little impact on that front.

But this was a positive performance and a step in the right direction, albeit a small one.

A steady night for new faces

Giggs made five changes to the side which began the Azerbaijan game, with Wayne Hennessey, Neil Taylor, Ethan Ampadu, Tom Lawrence and Bale dropping out.

In their place came Danny Ward, Ben Davies, Jonny Williams and two debutants, Morrell and Moore.

A low-key occasion this game may have been, but Lincoln's on-loan Bristol City midfielder Morrell and Wigan striker Moore will remember it for a long time.

Morrell was neat and tidy in central midfield alongside skipper-for-the-night Allen, while the towering Moore gave Wales some physical presence in attack.

Of those who came into the side, it was perhaps Williams who made the strongest case for involvement when Wales return to competitive action.

Midfielder Jonny Williams was Wales' creative fulcrum against Belarus

The 25-year-old started for his country for the first time in more than three years on the back of a good spell at Charlton Athletic, and he offered Wales the sort of craft on the ball which had been lacking at times against Azerbaijan.

He could be useful when Wales go to Slovakia and then face World Cup finalists Croatia on this ground in two potentially pivotal qualifying games in October.

With a bit of luck, of course, Juventus' Aaron Ramsey will be fit to offer his guile to Giggs' side by then too.

Man of the match

Jonny Williams - Making his first Wales start since Euro 2016, the attacking midfielder showed glimpses of his undoubted quality in a hard-working display.

Wales manager Ryan Giggs said:

"I am delighted with the performance. Especially in the first half I thought we were excellent.

"In the second half Belarus pressed us a bit differently and made it harder, but the two debutants I thought were very good and all that was missing was that second goal.

"It was a difficult one with Dan whether to rest him, but he wanted to play.

"When you are in form like his, players just want to play and keep scoring. He gets fans off their feet.

"To do what he's done at the start of the season is amazing. The next step obviously is that consistency, which he's shown so far and he needs to carry on.

"But I've got no doubts that will happen because he wants to be the best, he's a great character and a great trainer.

"He's one of those players where you know what he's going to do but you can't stop it. There are so many goals [he has scored] like that, but it's very difficult to stop because he can go either way."

Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text

Line-ups

Wales

12Ward
14Roberts
5MephamSubstituted forLockyerat 77'minutes
6Rodon
4DaviesSubstituted forGunterat 90+1'minutes
7Allen
15Morrell
10H WilsonSubstituted forVaulksat 89'minutes
17Williams
20JamesSubstituted forBaleat 50'minutes
13MooreSubstituted forVokesat 75'minutes

Substitutes

1Hennessey
2Gunter
3Levitt
8Smith
9Vokes
11Bale
16Lockyer
18Ampadu
19Hedges
21Davies
22Woodburn
23Vaulks

Belarus

16Plotnikov
8ZolotovBooked at 57mins
21Volkov
6Politsevich
5Polyakov
17BagaSubstituted forDragunat 71'minutes
14YablonskiSubstituted forMaevskiat 45'minutes
7KovalevSubstituted forNgomeat 45'minutes
10BakharSubstituted forKlimovichat 84'minutes
11SkavyshSubstituted forPecheninat 76'minutes
13SignevichSubstituted forStasevichat 70'minutes

Substitutes

1Gutor
2Dragun
3Matveychik
4Naumov
9Ngome
12Klimovich
15Klimovich
18Maevski
19Pavlovets
20Pechenin
22Stasevich

Referee:: William Collum

Match Stats

Home TeamWalesAway TeamBelarus

Possession: Home66%; Away34%

Shots: Home13; Away7

Shots on Target: Home2; Away1

Corners: Home5; Away1

Fouls: Home10; Away29

Live Text

Post update
Match ends, Wales 1, Belarus 0.
90'+4'
Full Time
Second Half ends, Wales 1, Belarus 0.

90'+2'
Post update
Joe Rodon (Wales) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+2'
Post update
Foul by Nikolai Zolotov (Belarus).
90'+1'
Substitution
Substitution, Wales. Chris Gunter replaces Ben Davies.
90'
Post update
Joe Allen (Wales) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'
Post update
Foul by Max Ebong Ngome (Belarus).
89'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Ben Davies (Wales) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
89'
Substitution
Substitution, Wales. Will Vaulks replaces Harry Wilson.
88'
Post update
Harry Wilson (Wales) wins a free kick on the left wing.
88'
Post update
Foul by Nikolai Zolotov (Belarus).
84'
Substitution
Substitution, Belarus. Vladislav Klimovich replaces Ivan Bakhar.
83'
Post update
Attempt missed. Ivan Bakhar (Belarus) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Max Ebong Ngome following a fast break.
83'
Post update
Jonathan Williams (Wales) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
83'
Post update
Foul by Nikolai Zolotov (Belarus).
81'
Post update
Jonathan Williams (Wales) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
81'
Post update
Foul by Kirill Pechenin (Belarus).
79'
Post update
Jonathan Williams (Wales) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
79'
Post update
Foul by Nikolai Zolotov (Belarus).
77'
Post update
Jonathan Williams (Wales) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

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182 comments

20. admin
'the winger had made a spectacular start to his career'
Really?!
-----
Well, since he signed a contract that makes him a multi-millionaire he has also scored in most games he's played.

How about you, champ? Nearly spoken to a girl yet?
Giggs complaining about players not turning up to play for Wales????????????
Man Utd have bought an absolute gem in Dan James.
2. Posted by immortal dabbing technique on
4 hours ago
Shan't be watching this.

Is it on too late for you?
James parents are welsh. The same as Michael owen parents were welsh and he lived in wales all his life. It is not like england never played players not born in England. Le saux, le tissier, sterling, Cunningham, Andy Cole, owen Hargreaves, reggis, zaha, blister, barnes, Terry butcher, rob Jones.
What a start Daniel James has had to his season.
Young, hungry, talented and scoring for club and country.

Quite a few sneered at the signing...but 15m could prove to be a very good bit of business for United.
Only 7,666 fans in attendance - Wales, you should be ashamed of yourselves !
Must admit that Dan James might be the bargain of the season, cracking goal.
Another great finish by young Dan
Looked a lot better tonight. Zippier passing and more penetration.
Well done Wales or whatever.

How is that Scottish HYS coming along?
I remember seeing someone say that James was ‘nasty’ and a poor signing for United....not doing too bad from the looks of it.
James certainly attracting attention of the big clubs. I think he will leave mid table club Utd for maybe Real or Juventus
Dan James what a player, hes going to be a world star I feel
Well done Wales, from a fellow Celt
@38

Well Wales beat Belgium twice on the spin and then England lost twice on the bounce to Belgium. See how your statement doesn’t make sense?
Well done Wales!
63 - the great thing is we have low expectations of our team so we don’t gee ourselves up every couple of years and come home disappointed from European Championships or World Cups.
Mbappe has pictures of Dan James on his wall
Congrats to Morrell of Lincoln City for full cap - well done

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