USA v Wales player ratings: Weah 7, Pulisic 6; Bale 6, Ramsey 5

Group B rivals open World Cup campaigns with a 1-1 draw at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium

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  USA RATINGS: Matt Turner – 5 The Arsenal goalkeeper had little to do in the first half, and stood little chance of saving Bale’s powerful penalty in the second. Getty

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  Sergio Dest – 6 Booked early on for a challenge on Williams, the AC Milan man was solid throughout, particularly when Wales started turning up the pressure. He was also willing to make the forward moves that sparked attacks. AP

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  Tim Ream – 6 The Fulham defender left Moore unmarked for Wales’ best opportunity in the second half but was largely comfortable in the backline. Booked. PA

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  Walker Zimmerman – 4 The Nashville centre-back was guilty of a reckless challenge on Bale in the box, conceding the penalty that allowed Wales back into the game. AFP

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  Antonee Robinson – 6 One of four Fulham players on the pitch, Robinson was lively on the wing and fared well throughout. EPA

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  Weston McKennie – 5 The Juventus player was sloppy in possession at times and looked off the pace as the game went on. Booked. AP

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  Tyler Adams – 6 The 23-year-old became America’s youngest captain at a World Cup since 1950 and put in a top display in the middle of the pitch, especially as Wales applied the pressure after the break. AP

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  Yunus Musah – 6 The Valencia midfielder was lively and keen to use his pace to dribble at the Wales defence from the wing. AFP

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  Christian Pulisic – 6 Wales were unable to handle the Chelsea man in the first half and they were caught out when Pulisic threaded a ball to Weah to tap home. The American’s impact weakened as the game went on. AP

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  Tim Weah – 7 After a strong start, he scored a much deserved goal to break the deadlock when he beat the offside trap and beat Hennessey to tap home. AFP

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  Josh Sargent – 5 The Norwich City striker started his first USA game in over a year and could have opened the scoring when his header hit the side netting inside 10 minutes. Saw little of the ball otherwise. AFP

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  SUBS: Brenden Aaronson (McKennie 66’) – 5 Unable to get his header on target in his first action of the game. PA

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  Kellyn Acosta – (Musah 75’) N/A Took one for the team against his LA teammate Bale when he brought down the Welshman with Turner exposed and out of position in the closing stages. AFP

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  Haji Wright (Dest 75’) – N/A Part of a triple substitution, and he struggled to keep pace with the game. AFP

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  DeAndre Yedlin (Sargent 74’) – N/A USA seemed to struggle to retain possession as well when Yedlin entered the pitch. Getty

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  Jordan Morris (Weah 88’) – N/A The former Swansea City player made a late entrance. AFP

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  WALES RATINGS: Wayne Hennessey – 6 The Nottingham Forest goalkeeper saved his side from an awkward own goal with a point-blank save to stop Rodon heading into his own net, but could only watch Weah round him for USA’s opener. Reuters

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  Chris Mepham – 5 The Welshman found it hard to deal with Pulisic on the wing in the first half, but grew into the pressure as the game went on and as Wales started to attack. Booked. AFP

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  Joe Rodon – 5 Got lucky when Hennessey’s point-blank save denied a headed own goal. Later, he was drawn into an aerial duel which he failed to win, leaving his side exposed for Weah’s opener. Getty

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  Ben Davies – 5 The Spurs man thought he’d found the equaliser for Wales when his header forced Turner into a smart save. AFP

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  Connor Roberts – 6 The Burnley man had a better second half when he started making more meaningful runs on the wing, which allowed Wales to advance forward. Managed to get a touch on the ball when Pulisic was played into the box. AFP

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  Ethan Ampadu – 6 The Spenzia midfielder saw an ambitious attempt fly over the crossbar inside 15 minutes. He was keen to get stuck in throughout the contest and showed plenty of energy, encapsulated by a superb tackle on Zimmermann late on. EPA

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  Aaron Ramsey – 5 The Nice midfielder took a while to get into the game and will be hoping to better influence the proceedings as the World Cup progresses. Getty

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  Neco Williams – 6 The 21-year-old was at fault and unaware of Weah, who he played onside, when Pulisic released the pacy American in the build up to the goal. Utilised the wing more in an attacking sense in the second half. PA

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  Harry Wilson – 5 Given a surprise nod ahead of Kieffer Moore, Wilson seemed to grow into the game after the restart. AFP

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  Gareth Bale – 6 Anonymous for much of the game, but it was no surprise when he finally got on the ball that things happened. No hesitation from the spot to level. Booked. Getty

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  Daniel James – 5 The Fulham forward was unable to get a hold of the game and was substituted at half-time. Getty

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  SUBS: Kieffer Moore (James 46’) – 7 The Bournemouth striker was brought on at half-time and his presence made an instant impact. He came close with a towering header. Getty

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  Brennan Johnson (Williams 79’) – 5 The Nottingham Forest forward was looking to get back on goalscoring form but could only direct a shot into Turner’s arms after a solo break forward. AFP

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  Sorba Thomas (Wilson 90+1’) – N/A Earned his seventh cap in a late change. AFP

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  Joe Morrell (Ampadu 96’) – N/A A late injury substitution. AFP

A late penalty by Gareth Bale earned Wales a 1-1 draw with the United States on Monday to avoid a losing return to the World Cup after 64 years in a fascinating Group B encounter at a raucous Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium.

Dragged down by US defender Tim Ream in the box, Wales' all-time top scorer stepped up to the penalty spot in the 82nd minute and made no mistake by hammering the ball into the top corner in front of the "Red Wall" of fans.

With one of the youngest teams at the tournament and themselves returning after eight years, the United States started energetically and took a deserved 1-0 lead with a 36th minute goal from Timothy Weah. They were unlucky not to go into the break with a bigger advantage against a Welsh side.

Weah, the son of Liberian president and former World Player of the Year George Weah, timed his run to perfection after a beautifully-weighted pass from Christian Pulisic and slipped the ball past Wales goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey.

The USA return to action against group leaders England on Friday following Wales' game against Iran earlier the same day.

Emma James has provided the player ratings for the US and Wales in the photo gallery above. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows or swipe if using a mobile device.