Wales Outclass Turkey to Move Closer to Euro 2020 Knockout Stage

Wales got the best of Turkey in Baku on Wednesday afternoon thanks to a masterclass from their most representative man Gareth Bale and the finishing skills of Juventus midfielder Aaron Ramsey.

The Welsh had staggered and scrambled to catch at least one point in their opener with Switzerland, but today’s victory made them bounce back and put them closer to a spot into the knockout stage – with even the possibility to end top of Group A, should they beat Italy in their last game on Sunday.

Turkey, on the other hand, are en route to win the prize for the most disappointing side of Euro 2020. Senol Gunes’ selection was billed as a potential outsider before the Euro kicked off but have soundly failed to meet the expectations so far – with his best men, especially Milan’s Hakan Calhanoglu, appearing totally out of the game. Not the even the support of 20,000 fans who came to the almost-neighboring Azerbaijan was of any help today.

Wales’ first goal was the outcome of a beautiful cooperation between Bale and Ramsey, with the former Real Madrid man picking the Bianconero with a perfectly-timed lobbed cross that leapt beyond the Turkish defense. Ramsey received the ball and put it past Ugurcan Cakir with a sharp conclusion.

Gareth Bale also took the luxury of missing a penalty that he had gained when Mehmet Zeki Celik pushed him down in the box. The Welshman’s conversion attempt was pretty sloppy, to say the least, and the ball ended into the stands of the Baku Olympic Stadium.

It was a mistake that could have costed a lot but, on one hand, Turkey’s late assaults were chaotic and confused, and only produced a Merih Demiral header that was well saved by the Welsh goalkeeper. On the other hand, Bale redeem himself during stoppage time offering another sublime assist – this time to Connor Roberts – that was promptly converted in the second and final goal of the day.

 

MATCH SCORECARD

June 16, 2021 – European Championship 2020 Group A
TURKEY-WALES 0-2

SCORERS: 43′ Ramsey, 95′ Roberts

TURKEY (4-2-3-1): Cakır; Celik, Ayhan, Soyuncu, Meras (72′ Müldür); Yokuslu (46′ Demiral), Tufan (46′ Yazıcı); Under (83′ Kahveci), Calhanoglu, Karaman (75′ Dervişoğlu); Yılmaz (Günok, Bayındır, Toköz, Antalyalı, Kabak, Kökçü, Aktürkoğlu) Coach: Gunes
WALES (4-2-3-1): Ward; C. Roberts, Mepham, Rodon, Davies; Morrell, Allen (73′ Ampadu); Bale, Ramsey (85′ Wilson), James (94′ N. Williams); Moore (Hennessey, Davies, Gunter, Lockyer, T. Roberts, Norrington-Davies, J. Williams, Brooks, Levitt) Coach: Page

REFEREE: Soares Dias (Portugal)
NOTES: Yellow Card: Yilmaz, Calhanoglu (T), Davies, Mepham (G); Extra Time: 1st Half 2′, 2nd Half 5′