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Gareth Bale saved Wales from a late penalty to clinch a 1-1 draw with the United States Globalism The Group B Cup falls on Monday in Qatar.
Welsh captain Bale converted an 82nd-minute penalty after a penalty kick moments earlier when defender Walker Zimmermann collided with the former Real Madrid star.
And he canceled out the wonderful goal scored by Tim Weah in the first half for the Americans, which threatened to spoil Wales’ return to the World Cup after 64 years of absence.
Bill Hader’s equalizer sent a large, boisterous group of Welsh fans into a crowd of 43,418 at Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium on the outskirts of Doha.
Up to that point it looked as if Wales were heading for defeat, struggling to break through a skilful and energetic American side who are the second-youngest in the tournament.
Wales were outplayed for much of the first half, with manager Rob Page’s decision not to start at towering centre-forward Kiefer Moore depriving them of an attacking outlet.
Instead, it was the USA who raced early, with Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic a constant threat.
Early positive play almost resulted in a goal after just nine minutes when Sergino Dest slotted in Weah down the right.
The Lille winger’s cross caused panic in the Welsh area as Joe Rodon’s header hit goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey’s midsection.
The danger wasn’t over as Pulisic gathered and crossed for Norwich striker Josh Sargent, who easily beat Rodon with a wide header.
The early exuberance led to a flurry of cards for the Americans early on, as Dest and Weston McKinney both booked in quick succession a pair of wild tackles on Neco Williams.
The US’s ruthless pressing game meant Wales were unable to build anything up in midfield, with Aaron Ramsey and Ethan Ampadu scarcely getting time or space.
The hack came after 35 minutes of play. Sargent’s fine play in the middle saw Pulisic speeding towards the goal before cutting through Weah, who sprinted behind the goal.
The son of African football superstar George Weah displayed remarkable composure, swooping in with a brilliant right-footed glance from the outside over Hennessy with a goal no less positive than the opening for the United States.
Wales ran into disciplinary trouble again shortly afterwards, and Bale was shown a yellow card for fighting Younis Musa in the 40th minute.
Chris Mepham joined the Welsh captain in the book after pulling Pulisic down near the end of the first half.
Big Moore brought in at halftime for Daniel James and the switch immediately began to have an impact.
Tottenham’s Ben Davies almost leveled with Wales in the 64th minute, but American goalkeeper Matt Turner saved him with an acrobatic strike over the crossbar.
Moore ran a header over the ensuing corner.
USA dropped deeper and Wales pressed harder as they chased the equaliser.
In the 80th minute, Ramsey sprinted down the right and slashed the ball for Bale, who shielded the ball and lured Zimmermann onto a wild rush.
Qatari referee Abdul Rahman Al Jassim pointed to the spot and Bale stepped up to save Wales.
Wales will meet Iran on Friday in their second Group B match, while the United States will face England, who beat Iran 6-2 earlier in the day.
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