Wales’ hopes of Euro 2024 qualification had been significantly broken by a humiliating 4-2 defeat to Armenia in Cardiff.
Lucas Zelarayan and Grant-Leon Ranos each scored twice as Armenia – ranked 97 on the planet and 71 locations decrease than Wales – secured one of many biggest victories of their soccer historical past.
Daniel James had given Wales an early opener and Harry Wilson reduce the deficit to 3-2 after Armenia had seized management, aided by some actually determined dwelling defending.
However Armenia responded in type and Welsh distress was accomplished by the dismissal of Kieffer Moore, who was adjudged to have dedicated foul play by Bulgarian referee Georgi Kabadov after tangling with goalkeeper Ognjen Chancharevich.
Moore will miss Monday’s journey to Turkey that now takes on additional significance for Wales after this setback.
It was a candy success for Armenia coach Olesksandr Petrakov, 12 months on after his Ukraine facet had been overwhelmed in a World Cup play-off closing in Cardiff.
Wales had not misplaced in 12 dwelling European Championship qualifiers – the final defeat being towards England in March 2011 – however Armenia joined the likes of Belarus, Cyprus, Macedonia and Moldova in inflicting embarrassing defeats on them down the years.
Wales had been embarrassed in Cardiff
(PA)
Vice-captain Ben Davies and Brennan Johnson had been welcomed again after lacking the 2 qualifiers in March when Wales had picked up 4 factors.
David Brooks was among the many substitutes after rejoining the squad for the primary time since being identified with stage-two Hodgkin lymphoma in October 2021.
Wales utilized early strain with Connor Roberts’ lengthy throws posing issues and Moore going shut from one in every of them.
Moore had simply headed broad when Johnson’s scrumptious Tenth-minute cross set James up for a easy sixth Wales aim.
If the hosts thought that early breakthrough would deflate Armenia then they had been in for a impolite awakening.
Captain Eduard Spertsyan headed inches broad and Danny Ward needed to stretch each sinew to carry Nair Tiknizyan’s cross on the second try.
However Ward had no likelihood when the rampaging Tiknizyan once more centred from the left for Zelarayan to ship a candy volley previous him.
It was a disheartening night time for Rob Web page’s males
(Motion Photographs by way of Reuters)
It obtained worse for Wales as Joe Rodon misplaced possession in his personal half and Spertsyan’s good ball arced over Chris Mepham for the unmarked Ranos to move dwelling.
Tigran Barseghyan nearly embarrassed Wales additional, however – in a half when it appeared {that a} aim would arrive from each assault – the Armenia aim out of the blue got here below siege.
Moore sidefooted the ball traight at Chancharevich after Wilson had sprung the offside lure and Rodon’s header drifted the incorrect facet of a submit from a Welsh perspective.
James drove broad after the restart, however Wales turned more and more stifled and annoyed by Armenia’s time-wasting techniques earlier than Ranos provided one other disagreeable shock with a beautiful end.
Wales had been again in it 18 minutes from time when Moore headed down on the far submit and Wilson stabbed dwelling from shut vary.
However Armenia responded once more for Ranos to thump a submit and be denied a hat-trick.
Wales didn’t profit from their luck as substitute Joe Morrell misplaced possession to Ugochukwu Iwu and Zelarayan smashed dwelling his second.
Brooks got here on for a late cameo to offer Wales with some cheer.
However Moore’s purple card – that appeared harsh on first look – confirmed Armenia’s first win in 10 video games on a loopy night time at Cardiff Metropolis Stadium.
