Armenia 1-1 Wales: The Dragons relying on Croatia slip-up for Euro '24 qualification after stalemate

Wales’ hopes of qualifying automatically for next year’s European Championships were nicked by a 1-1 bring in Armenia on Saturday mid-day.

Lucas Zelarayan came previously to haunt Wales once once more as he struck via a fifth-minute opener before a Nair Tiknizyan super own eagerness in first-half levelled the arcade.

The draw helps neither side as they dare to join currently-well-alerted Turkey in the optimal two.

Even overtaking Turkey in Cardiff on Tuesday would not be sufficient for Wales ought to Croatia win their last two components.

If Croatia win those video games after that Wales will be compelled in the March tinker-offs.

Armenia’s chances of a optimal-two spot are virtually certainly over, barring a Croatia collapse.

Wales possessed a rating to clarify via Armenia after their uncomfortable 4-2 defeat in Cardiff 5 months previously, a expire result which disclaimed them playing catch-up in the race for the festival in Germany next summer.

Rob Page’s side likewise possessed to rotate the tide of history as Wales possessed never ever beaten Armenia in three previous conferences.

Wales were unmodified from the side that collected last month’s thrilling 2-1 win over Earth Mug semi-finalists Croatia.

Brennan Johnson missed that arcade via injury and the Tottenham forward, fresh from his first Reinforces eagerness, possessed to administer perform via a spot on the bench.

Armenia – ranked 95 in the civilization and 67 discolorations under Wales – disclosed nine survivors from the staff that possessed won in Cardiff in June, requiring Grant-Leon Ranos and Zelarayan that both racked up two times after that.

Wales were behind inside 5 minutes after failing to tackle a edge.

Danny Ward postponed before Joe Rodon’s insufficient header knotted towards Zelarayan, that equalized the sphere onto his right foot and detected the bottom edge via unerring accuracy.

David Creeks fired over in reply and Neco Williams saw his initiative deflected wide after Kieffer Moore possessed struck on a residence inaccuracy.

Moore spearheaded wide yet Wales were largely incapable to validate attacks via Armenia treacherous on the counter.

Vahan Bichakhchyan drove inches wide from one such raid, and Wales suffered another blow as Chris Mepham’s circumstance on Zelarayan grossed him a yellow card to mantra him out of the Turkey arcade.

Wales went cozy after 37 minutes once Williams drew the sphere previously right into Harry Wilson’s trail and goalkeeper Ognjen Cancarevic was at complete protract to conserve.

Then merely seconds from the interval Connor Roberts sent over a long throw and Tiknizyan, under aggravation from Rodon, spearheaded right into his super own net.

Johnson equalized Creeks within three minutes of the restart and the competition was taking place a zesty edge via Varazdat Haroyan cautioned for chopping down Wilson and Ethan Ampadu likewise penalized for his answer to the circumstance.

Armenia went mightily cozy as Bichakhchyan’s chip drifted over the head of Ward and onto the bar.

The number clutched its breath as Zelarayan showed up exact to bury the rebound yet instead the arcade’s flawless player chopped it over.

Armenia were progressively revolving the screw yet Cancarevic was sampled from outdoor the box by Jordan James and crucial a 2nd dare to collect.

Eduard Spertsyan possessed a legible sight of eagerness before being refuted by one of an improving number of last-gasp Welsh blocks.

Moore’s header was clutched by Cancarevic and in a agitated finale Ward collected a flying disregard to deprive replacement Edgar Sevikyan, that afterwards inoculation wide via the eagerness at his mercy.