2 years ago
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ARTICLE AD BOX
By Dafydd PritchardBBC Sport Wales at Cardiff City Stadium
Last updated on Less than a minute ago.From the section Football
Lucas Zelarayan's volley began Armenia's fightback in CardiffWales suffered one of their most embarrassing and damaging defeats in recent memory as they lost at home to Armenia in a chaotic and foul-tempered Euro 2024 qualifier.
The hosts seemed on to be on course for a comfortable evening when Daniel James fired them in front from Brennan Johnson's low cross, but the home crowd were soon silenced by an exquisite volley from Armenia captain Lucas Zelaryan.
There were then gasps of disbelief as Grant-Leon Ranos was given the freedom of the Cardiff City Stadium to head the visitors - 71 places below Wales in the world rankings - into a first-half lead which was as deserved as it was shocking.
Wales had several chances to equalise but their wasteful finishing was punished after the break as Ranos hit a fine first-time shot from the edge of the area to send Armenia's small contingent of travelling fans into raptures.
Harry Wilson pulled a goal back for Wales with a little under 20 minutes remaining, only for Zelarayan to curl in a superb second to restore Armenia's two-goal advantage.
Any hopes Wales had of salvaging something from this game were then dealt another blow when striker Kieffer Moore was sent off for an off-the-ball clash with Armenian goalkeeper Ognjen Chancharevich.
That final calamity set the seal on a nightmarish evening for Wales, who squandered the chance to go top of Group D with previous leaders Croatia instead in Nations League action.
Rob Page and his Wales players must now try to recover from this humiliation in time for Monday's trip to face new leaders Turkey, touted by many as their closest rivals for qualification behind group favourites Croatia.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Wales
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 12Ward
- 14Roberts
- 5MephamBooked at 70mins
- 6RodonSubstituted forN Williamsat 67'minutesBooked at 85mins
- 4Davies
- 15Ampadu
- 10RamseySubstituted forMorrellat 67'minutes
- 9JohnsonSubstituted forBrooksat 71'minutes
- 8WilsonSubstituted forBradshawat 83'minutes
- 20JamesSubstituted forBroadheadat 82'minutes
- 13MooreBooked at 78mins
Substitutes
- 1Hennessey
- 2Fox
- 3N Williams
- 7Brooks
- 11Harris
- 16Morrell
- 17James
- 18Cabango
- 19Bradshaw
- 21Davies
- 22Cullen
- 23Broadhead
Armenia
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1CancarevicBooked at 79mins
- 2CalisirSubstituted forHaroyanat 62'minutes
- 4Harutyunyan
- 5Mkrtchyan
- 20Dashyan
- 6Iwu
- 8Spertsyan
- 21TiknizyanBooked at 70mins
- 11BarseghyanSubstituted forBichakhchyanat 63'minutes
- 10ZelarayánSubstituted forBriascoat 76'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 17RanosBooked at 67minsSubstituted forSerobyanat 88'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Haroyan
- 7Shaghoyan
- 9Serobyan
- 12Buchnev
- 13Davidyan
- 14Briasco
- 15Margaryan
- 16Beglaryan
- 18Harutyunyan
- 19Angulo
- 22Piloyan
- 23Bichakhchyan
Live Text
Match ends, Wales 2, Armenia 4.
Second Half ends, Wales 2, Armenia 4.
Norberto Briasco (Armenia) is shown the yellow card.
Attempt missed. David Brooks (Wales) left footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left.
Ben Davies (Wales) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Artur Serobyan (Armenia).
Attempt missed. Ugochukwu Iwu (Armenia) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
Substitution, Armenia. Artur Serobyan replaces Grant-Leon Ranos.
Attempt missed. Tom Bradshaw (Wales) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Ben Davies.
Neco Williams (Wales) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Neco Williams (Wales).
Artak Dashyan (Armenia) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution, Wales. Tom Bradshaw replaces Harry Wilson.
Substitution, Wales. Nathan Broadhead replaces Dan James.
Attempt blocked. Dan James (Wales) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is blocked.
David Brooks (Wales) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Eduard Spertsyan (Armenia).
Ognjen Cancarevic (Armenia) is shown the yellow card.
Kieffer Moore (Wales) is shown the red card for violent conduct.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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