UEFA Nations League - Group B4
WalesWales1BulgariaBulgaria0
By Dafydd PritchardBBC Sport Wales at Cardiff City Stadium
Neco Williams and Ryan Giggs celebrate
Neco Williams and Ryan Giggs celebrate after the final whistle

Neco Williams spared Wales a frustrating draw at home to Bulgaria in the Nations League as the Liverpool teenager came off the bench to score the winning goal deep into injury time on just his second international appearance.

Ryan Giggs' side could only muster one shot on goal in a flat first half, with Bulgaria content to sit back and contain their opponents.

Wales played with more urgency after the break and, after David Brooks hit the post, it looked like their late pressure would be in vain against a dogged Bulgarian side 36 places lower than them in the world rankings.

But from a deep cross by fellow substitute Jonny Williams in the fourth minute of added time, 19-year-old right-back Neco Williams stole in at the back post to head into the net.

Victory extends Wales' unbeaten run to eight games and a second win from their opening two Nations League matches keeps them top of Group B4 with the Republic of Ireland at home to Finland in Sunday's other group fixture.

Having started the Nations League with a 1-0 victory in Finland on Thursday, Wales were unbeaten in seven matches and developing a defensive fortitude, which had seen them concede just three goals during that period.

And while Giggs was encouraged by the continued maturing of his young squad, there was room for improvement in attack.

No other team to qualify for Euro 2020 had scored fewer than Wales' 10 goals in their qualifying campaign, so a match against a Bulgarian side who had won only one of their previous 15 matches represented a big opportunity for Wales.

However, after a tentative start from both sides, it was the visitors who created the first chance, as Galin Ivanov cut inside from the left and curled a 20-yard shot narrowly wide of the far post.

Bulgaria were otherwise happy to drop deep and keep possession, untroubled by Wales as the game was played at a lethargic pace.

With domestic seasons only just starting, players on both sides still looked like they were playing themselves towards match fitness.

One was Gareth Bale, taken off at half-time in Finland as his lack of football with Real Madrid told, but finding pockets of space against Bulgaria which suggested he was gradually getting sharper.

The Wales captain hit a powerful free-kick straight at goalkeeper Georgi Georgiev and combined well with Brooks, who later volleyed wide, though it was clear Wales needed to improve on a sluggish first half.

In an attempt to inject some much-needed urgency into his team, Giggs turned to the bench after an hour.

He introduced West Bromwich Albion forward Hal Robson-Kanu - making his first appearances since 2017 having reversed his decision to retire from international football - and Liverpool defender Neco Williams, winning his second cap.

The hosts did then start to play at a snappier tempo, Daniel James playing a one-two with Brooks before forcing Georgiev with a curling effort.

The two players combined again five minutes later, James cushioning a crossfield pass from Bale into the path of Brooks, whose half-volley clipped the angle of post and crossbar.

That proved to be his final contribution before being replaced by Jonny Williams, and all three substitutes combined to salvage victory for Wales.

As the game entered its final minute of added time, Robson-Kanu held off Bulgarian defenders and laid the ball off to Jonny Williams, who sent an arcing cross towards the back post, where Neco Williams perfectly timed his run and headed the ball into the ground and then the net.

The relief and elation was etched on Welsh faces. This was not a classic performance from Giggs' side - and neither was it on Thursday in Finland - but this young Wales team are developing a happy habit of finding a way to win.

Line-ups

Wales

  • 1Hennessey
  • 14RobertsSubstituted forWilliamsat 65'minutesBooked at 85mins
  • 16Lockyer
  • 15Ampadu
  • 4Davies
  • 19SmithBooked at 60mins
  • 18Morrell
  • 11Bale
  • 22BrooksSubstituted forWilliamsat 76'minutes
  • 20James
  • 13MooreSubstituted forRobson-Kanuat 61'minutes

Substitutes

  • 2Gunter
  • 3Williams
  • 5Cabango
  • 6Lawrence
  • 7Levitt
  • 8Williams
  • 9Robson-Kanu
  • 10H Wilson
  • 12Ward
  • 17Matondo
  • 21Davies
  • 23Vaulks

Bulgaria

  • 1Georgiev
  • 6Gusmao
  • 5Dimitrov
  • 14Nedyalkov
  • 4Goranov
  • 7KostadinovBooked at 43mins
  • 11Karabelyov
  • 17Karagaren
  • 8NedelevSubstituted forYavorov Krastevat 82'minutes
  • 18IvanovSubstituted forDelevat 70'minutes
  • 10KraevSubstituted forIlievat 61'minutes

Substitutes

  • 2Popov
  • 3Nikolaev Popov
  • 9Delev
  • 12Slavov Rabotov
  • 13Mihaylov
  • 15Galabov
  • 16Kovachev
  • 19Isa Mustafa
  • 20Iliev
  • 21Yavorov Krastev
  • 22Tsvetkov
  • 23Lukov
Referee:
Fábio Veríssimo

Match Stats

Home TeamWalesAway TeamBulgaria
Possession
Home51%
Away49%
Shots
Home8
Away2
Shots on Target
Home3
Away0
Corners
Home5
Away1
Fouls
Home16
Away13

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Wales 1, Bulgaria 0.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Wales 1, Bulgaria 0.

  3. Goal!

    Goal! Wales 1, Bulgaria 0. Neco Williams (Wales) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Jonathan Williams with a cross.

  4. Post update

    Attempt missed. Gareth Bale (Wales) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Joe Morrell.

  5. Post update

    Georgi Kostadinov (Bulgaria) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  6. Post update

    Foul by Hal Robson-Kanu (Wales).

  7. Post update

    Foul by Kristian Traychev Dimitrov (Bulgaria).

  8. Post update

    Hal Robson-Kanu (Wales) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  9. Booking

    Neco Williams (Wales) is shown the yellow card.

  10. Post update

    Attempt missed. Birsent Karagaren (Bulgaria) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Dimitar Iliev.

  11. Post update

    Georgi Georgiev (Bulgaria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  12. Post update

    Foul by Hal Robson-Kanu (Wales).

  13. Post update

    Corner, Wales. Conceded by Georgi Kostadinov.

  14. Substitution

    Substitution, Bulgaria. Filip Yavorov Krastev replaces Todor Nedelev.

  15. Post update

    Corner, Wales. Conceded by Birsent Karagaren.

  16. Substitution

    Substitution, Wales. Jonathan Williams replaces David Brooks.

  17. Post update

    David Brooks (Wales) hits the left post with a left footed shot from the left side of the box. Assisted by Daniel James.

  18. Post update

    Hand ball by Cicinho (Bulgaria).

  19. Post update

    Foul by Neco Williams (Wales).

  20. Post update

    Spas Delev (Bulgaria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

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Scores, Results & Fixtures

Sunday 6th September 2020

As It Stands

A

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Gibraltar11001013
2Liechtenstein00000000
3San Marino100101-10

B

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Netherlands11001013
2Bos-Herze10101101
3Italy10101101
4Poland100101-10

C

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Austria11002113
2Northern Ireland10101101
3Romania10101101
4Norway100112-10

D

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Wales22002026
2R. of Ireland10101101
3Bulgaria201112-11
4Finland100101-10

E

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Belgium11002023
2England11001013
3Iceland100101-10
4Denmark100102-20

F

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Faroe Islands22004226
2Latvia10100001
3Andorra201101-11
4Malta100123-10

G

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Ukraine11002113
2Spain10101101
3Germany10101101
4Switzerland100112-10

H

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Montenegro11002023
2Luxembourg11002113
3Azerbaijan100112-10
4Cyprus100102-20

I

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Albania11002023
2Kazakhstan11002023
3Belarus100102-20
4Lithuania100102-20

J

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Portugal11004133
2France11001013
3Sweden100101-10
4Croatia100114-30

K

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Russia11003123
2Hungary11001013
3Turkey100101-10
4Serbia100113-20

L

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Kosovo10101101
2Moldova10101101
3Greece10100001
4Slovenia10100001

M

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Czech Rep11003123
2Israel10101101
3Scotland10101101
4Slovakia100113-20

N

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1North Macedonia11002113
2Georgia11001013
3Armenia100112-10
4Estonia100101-10
View full UEFA Nations League tables

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