Wales made a winning start to their World Cup qualifying campaign, with substitute Rabbi Matondo sealing victory in stoppage time after Ben Davies and Daniel James scored on either side of a Kazakhstan penalty. Despite an awkward encounter, Wales secured a 3-1 win, maintaining their unbeaten record under Craig Bellamy. However, a sharper performance will be needed for their next match against North Macedonia, who have won their past six games.
Wales are hoping for another memorable journey, one that surpasses their disappointing group-stage performances in the last World Cup. Ben Davies, reflecting on that tournament, admitted that the best moment had been qualifying rather than the games themselves. His goal, a powerful header 79 seconds into the second half, provided some comfort before Matondo finished the job by converting Sorba Thomas’s cross.
Nerves were evident in the Cardiff City Stadium as halftime approached, with Kazakhstan leveling the score after Wales initially took the lead. The visitors started well, with Maxim Samorodov taking the first shot on goal. However, Wales struck first in the ninth minute when James’s effort took a heavy deflection, wrong-footing Kazakhstan goalkeeper Alexandr Zarutskiy. The fortunate goal came after Askhat Tagybergen failed to clear the ball.
Despite the early lead, Wales struggled to dominate. David Brooks wasted a two-on-one opportunity by under-hitting a pass to Thomas, and moments later, Wales found themselves under pressure. Connor Roberts was penalized for handball inside the box after blocking Islam Chesnokov’s cross. Following a lengthy VAR review, a penalty was awarded, and Tagybergen’s weak spot-kick squeezed past Karl Darlow after deflecting off his feet.
In preparation for this match, Bellamy studied Kazakhstan’s tactical setup, reviewing past games managed by their interim coach, Ali Aliyev. As expected, Kazakhstan played with a low defensive block, requiring Wales to remain patient in their buildup.
Bellamy emphasized the importance of maintaining possession and not forcing play unnecessarily. “The important part is to not get bored of keeping the ball,” he said. “If you try to force things, you become more vulnerable to the counterattack. The message at halftime was to be patient, they’ll tire, and we’ll pick them off.”
Wales executed that plan early in the second half. Davies capitalized on a defensive lapse, heading in after Zarutskiy failed to deal with a Thomas corner. The goal helped dispel memories of past disappointments, such as their defeat to Armenia in a Euro 2024 qualifier and a goalless draw against Gibraltar.
Playing as favorites often brings expectations of an easy win, but Davies acknowledged the difficulty of such matches. “In games where you go in as favorites, there are expectations to walk all over teams, but it is never the case,” he said. Bellamy, staying composed at halftime, delivered a clear message to the players, though they were visibly frustrated with their own performance.
Neco Williams forced a save with a well-struck free-kick before Matondo ensured Wales secured all three points. Substitute Jordan James played the ball wide to Thomas, who set up Matondo for a close-range finish.
As the final whistle approached, the home crowd erupted into song, reliving memories of past tournament success and longing for another adventure on the global stage. Wales now turn their attention to North Macedonia, aware that a more polished display will be necessary to continue their campaign on a high note.
