Wales 1-1 Georgia
WAL: Bale 10’
GEO: Okriashvili 57’
Man of the Match: Valeri Kazaishvili (Georgia)
There are times when it has been grossly unfair to portray Wales as a one-man side.
Euro 2016 was one such as individual excellence and collective resolve underpinned their surprise surge to the semi-finals.
Yet shorn of the two Welshmen named in the team of the tournament in France, the injured Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen, their reliance on one man was laid bare. Gareth Bale still delivered for his country, but it was not enough.
Georgia, the minnows who had lost to Austria and the Republic of Ireland, secured an unexpected draw in Cardiff and their excellent second-half display arguably merited victory. After dropping four points in as many days, Wales go into November’s clash with Serbia needing to impose their authority on Group D.
They have led three times against Austria and Georgia and been pegged back on every occasion. Their players were wearing black armbands as they mourned Mel Charles, one of the finest centre-backs in the 1958 World Cup, and the thought was that, after ending 58 years to appear in a second major tournament, they would belatedly grace the global showpiece again in 2018. They still should, but an improvement is required to end their exile.
This underlined the significance of Allen, the passer who can dictate the rhythm, and Ramsey, whose energy can render him a catalyst. Instead, they possessed just one. Wales were without two of their three best footballers, but they still benefited from the presence of the outstanding British player of his generation.
Bale is a footballer who is capable of great virtuosity, but he has shown this week that he can excel in prosaic fashion. He troubled Austria with his long throws on Thursday. Three days later, he headed in Joe Ledley’s corner in the manner of a giant centre-half, not an electric winger.
It was his 25th goal for his country; Ian Rush’s national record of 28 is now tantalisingly close. Bale almost had a 26th in the second half, his free kick skimming the roof of the net. By then, however, Wales had been pegged back.
They had started at speed but, after going behind, Georgia grew into the game. Jano Ananidze’s free kick clipped the top of Wayne Hennessey’s bar. Then when Wales began the second half in subdued mode, the visitors levelled. Valeri Kazaishvili crossed, Tornike Okriashvili ran in behind Neil Taylor and headed beyond a stranded Hennessey.
It was a deserved reward for their improvement.
Wales’ response was to bring on Hal Robson-Kanu, who has only had 17 minutes of club football since his glorious goal against Belgium in July, followed by David Cotterill, who has not found the net for Birmingham in five months, and Emyr Huws, who has only started once for Cardiff this season. Each is an attack-minded player, but none belongs in the class of the much-missed Allen and Ramsey.
And, despite Bale’s free kick, Georgia came closer to a winner. Hennessey had to dive to his right to tip away an Ananidze dipper. When Bale lost the ball, Levan Mchedlidze was sent charging clear. The striker’s composure deserted him at the crucial moment and he shot wide. Valerian Gvilia directed a shot just past the post and Kazaishvili rattled the bar with Hennessey beaten.
Wales were ragged as Georgia counter-attacked with menace.
They came perilously close to extending a 100 per cent record. Georgia had won all three previous encounters with the Welsh and a 5-0 defeat in 1994 represented a nadir for Chris Coleman.
Defender then, manager now, Coleman has discovered that Georgia remain a bogey side. The cost of their defiance may be considerable.
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