Wales labour to victory

10:24pm Saturday 11th October 2008

Returning captain Craig Bellamy missed a penalty as Wales made heavy weather of the 2-0 victory at home to Liechtenstein which gave them three vital World Cup qualifying points.

David Edwards scored his first goal for his country four minutes from the break, and Bellamy then had a spot-kick saved by Peter Jehle just before the break.

Wales toiled against a packed defence but finally got their second with 11 minutes to go when substitute Ched Evans saw a header deflected home by Liechtenstein captain Mario Frick.

Bellamy almost scored after just three minutes when he cut in from the right to see his angled drive pushed on to the bar by Jehle. Jason Koumas' header from the rebound was also saved, the Wigan man then seeing a 20-yarder fly just wide.

Liechtenstein defended in depth but were quick on the break and on more than one occasion caught Wales short-handed at the back. Michele Polverino hit one drive wide of the far post after a sortie up field.

The Welsh began to look lethargic and lacking in cohesion, resorting to long balls from the back. Delivery from the flanks was poor or over-hit - and when Koumas eventually got into a good position to deliver a pass into the six-yard box, Sam Vokes somehow managed to miss his connection from a yard out.

Eventually Wales managed a move of pace and accurate passing, and they took the lead. Chris Gunter's clever chip down the right sent Simon Davies away, and his cross was swept into the net off a post by Edwards - his first goal for his country.

Bellamy then saw a shot pushed away by Jehle, before missing a 43rd-minute penalty after Martin Buchel had tripped Gareth Bale.

It was the third successive spot-kick Wales have missed in this World Cup group as Bellamy's low shot was scrambled away by Jehle to his left.

Wales got their second when Davies curled in a corner, and Evans rose to send in a powerful header that deflected into the net off Frick.

Features