Juventus midfielder Aaron Ramsey and Venezia‘s Ethan Ampadu are heading to the 2022 World Cup, as Wales squeezed victory over Ruslan Malinovskyi’s Ukraine in the play-off.
Wales will be in the same group as England, Iran and the United States of America.
The 1-0 victory in Cardiff was sealed thanks to an own goal, as captain Andriy Yarmolenko accidentally nodded a Gareth Bale free kick into his own net when trying to clear, instead completely wrong-footing his goalkeeper.
Ukraine largely dominated the match with numerous chances, just as they had beaten Scotland 3-1 in the play-off semi-final earlier this week.
They also had reason to protest a big penalty shout on the stroke of half-time, which VAR decided not to intervene on, while Wales hit the woodwork late on.
Juventus midfielder Ramsey and Ampadu, who spent this season at Venezia, will be at the World Cup in November and December.
It’s the first time Wales have qualified in 64 years, but heartbreak for Ukraine and Atalanta midfielder Malinovskyi.
WALES LEAD! 🏴
Gareth Bale’s free-kick is diverted into his own net by
Andriy Yarmolenko! 😮 pic.twitter.com/cyj9ZrUlSK— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) June 5, 2022
Only one place that spare World Cup place will go now… 🇺🇦
I don’t find it fair, that Wales played at their home stadium. If this is a qualifier, and all teams should be in equal conditions.
Wales got very lucky Ukraine played much better
Clear penalty denied to Ukraine. FIFA wanted Wales and Bale to make the cut, no two ways about it.
Today they’re out of the world cup and very soon they’ll be off the world map 😩
No but all jokes aside, it is great to see bale conclude his career by taking wales to the world cup! Deserves it!
Why all this love for a corrupt Neo-Nazi regime in Ukraine?
Good on Bale and the Taffys, let’s all sing a tune for them!
@watson
Most of these are brainwashed yanks with fox news as their main education!
@watson
They’re all comments from Americans! Just regurgitating nonsense spewed by thirty warlords and fox news! The majority of them wouldn’t even be able to locate Ukraine on a map!