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Sports Desk: Wales ended a turbulent period on a high note as Daniel James' late goal earned a vital 1-0 win against the Czech Republic in Tuesday's World Cup qualifier.<\/p>\nSports Desk: Wales ended a turbulent period on a high note as Daniel James' late goal earned a vital 1-0 win against the Czech Republic in Tuesday's World Cup qualifier.<\/p>\n
Manchester United forward James settled a hard-fought clash with a towering header from Gareth Bale's superb cross nine minutes from full-time at the Cardiff City Stadium.<\/p>\n
Both sides finished with 10 men after second half dismissals for Czech striker Patrik Schick and Wales defender Connor Roberts.<\/p>\n
After losing 3-1 in Belgium in their opening Group E qualifier last week, Wales are back on track as they chase a place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.<\/p>\n
It was a much-needed tonic for Welsh football after a difficult spell when off-field issues threatened to damage their qualification bid.<\/p>\n
Once again, Wales were led by caretaker manager Robert Page while boss Ryan Giggs remains away from the team due to his arrest on suspicion of assaulting a woman last year.<\/p>\n
Giggs denies the allegations and has been bailed by Greater Manchester police.<\/p>\n
As if that wasn't enough of a distraction, Wales trio Hal Robson-Kanu, Rabbi Matondo and Tyler Roberts were axed from the squad on Monday for staying up too late and breaking a curfew at the team hotel.<\/p>\n
Matondo and team-mate Ben Cabango were also racially abused online following Wales' friendly win over Mexico on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Despite all those issues, Wales dug deep in a display that mirrored the battling performances that carried them to Euro 2020 qualification.<\/p>\n
“We found the way to win. We knew we were in for a battle and they were a threat constantly,” Page said.<\/p>\n
“They had six up front at times and a massive aerial threat in the box. But I think we had the clear cut chances and thankfully we took one at the end.<\/p>\n
“Three points so far is a great return considering the players not here. You bring those players back and there are bigger and better things to come.”<\/p>\n
– ‘Slow start' –<\/p>\n
The Czechs have four points from three games and their captain Vladimir Darida said: “We're sorry we did not repeat the good performance from the previous games. We got off to a slow start and we paid for it.<\/p>\n
“But the qualifying campaign will be long and I believe we'll make up for this.”<\/p>\n
Ondrej Kudela started for the Czechs after Slavia Prague had initially prevented him from making the trip.<\/p>\n
Kudela was accused of racially abusing Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara during a Europa League tie and Slavia had suggested the player's safety could not be guaranteed in the UK.<\/p>\n
The Czechs were reduced to 10 men three minutes into the second half.<\/p>\n
Schick raised his hands to Roberts in a crowded penalty area and the Swansea defender fell to the ground holding his face.<\/p>\n
But Roberts was dismissed himself in the 77th minute, receiving a second yellow card after competing for a high ball with West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek.<\/p>\n
Soucek went to ground theatrically but Romanian referee Ovidiu Hategan felt the offence was worthy of a red card.<\/p>\n
Wales ignored that blow to snatch the winner in the 81st minute.<\/p>\n
Marking his 90th cap in style, Bale deftly worked a yard of space on the left flank and whipped over a sublime cross.<\/p>\n
The diminutive James rose high above the Czech defence to bury his downwards header past Tomas Vaclik from six yards.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Sports Desk: Wales ended a turbulent period on a high note as Daniel James’ late goal earned a vital 1-0 win against the Czech Republic in Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier. Manchester United forward James settled a hard-fought clash with a towering header from Gareth Bale’s superb cross nine minutes from full-time at the Cardiff City […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":67745,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[8],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n