Wales’ undefeated home record under Rob Page was broken after they were defeated 2-1 by the Netherlands in the League of Nations.
Joe Allen, Wayne Hennessy, Kiefer Moore, Aaron Ramsey and Neco Williams were left out of the team after their monumental efforts in the final victory in the World Cup playoffs over Ukraine three days earlier. And it gave a chance to people like Brennan Johnson, Chris Mefam, Joe Morel and Dylan Levitt to impress against the top opposition at Cardiff City Stadium.
The hosts had better chances in the first half, but fell behind after a shot by Teun Koopmeiners at the beginning of the second half. Rhys Norrington-Davis seemed to save a point for the hosts with his first international goal in the injured time. But Wout Weghorst headed home a minute later to seal a dramatic victory for the visitors after a series of 19 unbeaten home games against Wales ended.
READ MORE:Just how the casual Welsh manager Rob Page ended 64 years of waiting to go down in history
The bigger picture was clear after Wales’ remarkable night against Ukraine. Both sides had a rather unfamiliar look, with van Gaal changing all of his starting 11 of his country’s 4-1 victory in Belgium on Friday. And Wales was the one who survived the early fear, as Joe Rodden’s loose pass was intercepted, although the Kupmins’ shot from the ensuing attack was well blocked.
The guests enjoyed a lot of mastery, but at an abundant pace, Wales alone posed a threat and created two chances of unlikely paths. Harry Wilson shot with his head in the corner of Daniel James, before the perfect centering of Mefam was translated with a head by the lively Norrington-Davis.
Goalkeeper Mark Flecken then had to repel Wilson’s free kick before being tried by James while Wales created better holes. Even when the Netherlands threatened, the hosts always had the reliable Ben Davis – their country’s captain to call, while Rodin and Mefam made some timely interventions to ensure that Danny Ward did not save in the first half.
The goalkeeper was replaced by Adam Davis in the second half, and the Sheffield United player was relieved to see the free kick of the Cupminsters explode into the side net shortly after the half. But he was defeated just five minutes after his fourth game when the Atalanta Cup miners broke into the far corner with his side’s first shot on target.
Rubin Colville replaced the injured Morel just before the hour when Paige’s men tried to increase the intensity in search of an equalizer. James’s incredible speed paved the way for the opening, although the Leeds United player tried well after contacting Wilson in a counterattack.
Time passed and Gareth Bale and Rabbi Matondo replaced James and Johnson by 13 minutes to the end of the clock, much to the delight of the Red Wall. And they seemed to have stolen a point in death when Norrington-Davis headed to Connor Roberts beyond Flecken in the second minute of added time.
But the hearts of the Welsh were broken moments later when Weghorst headed home to win for the visiting team, as Wales suffered its first home defeat since being defeated by Denmark in November 2018.
Wales: Ward (A Davis 46); Mepham, Rodin, B. Davis (C); C. Roberts, Levitt (Smith 67), Morel (Colville 58), Norrington-Davis; Wilson; Johnson (Matondo 77), James (Bale 77).
Unused submarines: Gunther, Burns, Ampadu, Jay Williams, Harris, Thomas.
Goal: Norrington-Davis 90 + 2
The Netherlands: Flecken, Taizé, De Vrie (K), De Ligt (Martins Indy 84); Hateboer, Koopmeiners, Schouten (F de Jong 67), Malacia; Lang (Til 90 + 1), Gakpo (Bergwyn 67); Weghorst.
Unused subtitles: Cillessen, Scherpen, Ake, Depay, Berghuis, Klaassen, Blind, Dumfries.
Goals: Cupmins 50, Weghorst 90 + 3
Yellow card: Taizé 3
Visitors: 23 395
Judge: Glenn Newberg
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