Bellamy inspires final fling from Wales

Craig Bellamy kept Wales’ slim hopes of qualification for Euro 2008 alive with an out-standing display in an impressive 5-2 win over Slovakia in Trnava.

Bellamy set up three and bagged a brace to move ahead of John Toshack in the all-time Welsh goal-scorers list and level with the legendary John Charles on 15 goals.

As well as a victory in Eastern Europe Welsh dreams hinged on their Celtic cousins the Republic of Ireland defeating the Czech Republic but Toshack’s young side did all that they could, three first-half counter attacks providing three goals against the side who humiliated Wales 5-1 in Cardiff last year, before an own goal and an 89th minute finish from Simon Davies completed the rout.

The Welsh players could have been forgiven for checking their watches as they walked onto the pitch for their crunch Euro 2008 qualifier.

Last Saturday’s crowd of 25,000 at the Millennium Stadium was adjudged a poor turnout, particularly given the quality of Wales’ opposition, but the Antona Malatinskeho stadium in Trnava was virtually bare by comparison. 500 Welsh fans made the journey to Slovakia and the home support did not number many more in the 18,000 capacity stadium.

Both Wales and Slovakia retained an outside chance of qualification at the outset of the evening, yet this glimmer of hope seemed not to galvanise the Slovak public. It was Slovakia’s 7th attempt to reach the final of a major tournament in the 14 years since the countries conception and the absence of a clean sheet in their last dozen internationals gives a clue as to why.

However, the Slovakian’s defied their supporters’ indifference, opening the scoring in the 11th minute after Cardiff City’s Joe Ledley made a complete hash of a simple clearance in his own box and gifted the Slovak skipper, Marek Mintal, the opportunity to volley past Wayne Hennessey from eight yards.

Welsh fears of a repeat defeat by the Eastern European outfit were assuaged when Freddy Eastwood levelled in the 21st minute. Craig Bellamy displayed his class threading a clever little ball through the Slovak defence to feed Joe Ledley who made amends for his earlier error by crossing into the path of the encroaching Eastwood who hit the mark for the second time in only his second game for Wales.

If Craig Bellamy needed to stretch his legs after missing the defeat to Germany he was given a golden opportunity to do so in the 34th minute. Receiving the ball on the halfway line he streaked half the length of the pitch before chipping the approaching keeper to find the top right corner and complete a reverse in Wales’ fortunes.

It was almost a carbon copy of his effort minutes earlier when he found the net by the same means, chipping the goalkeeper from a similar position, but incurring a yellow card as the referee had already blown for offside.

Bellamy continued to outline the impact of his absence on Saturday by adding a third in the 41st minute. Joe Ledley, once again the provider, chipped deftly over the Slovakian back line for Bellamy to run on and finish coolly from the left side of the six yard box. Only the woodwork denied him a hat-trick in the second half.

In the 78th minute he completed his torment of the Slovak defence, beating two players down the right and passing across from edge of the six yard box to tee-up Simon Davies for a tap-in, forcing Durica to find his own net whilst attempting an impossible intervention.

Despite the score-line, Slovakia bossed large swathes of the game with inventive and high-tempo passing, but their industry was let down again by a pourous defence which has conceded an average of almost two goals a game in qualification so far.

Moments before half-time a flick-on at the near post fell for Mintal whose shot rocketed goal-ward from the edge of the area only to ricochet off the Welsh bar to the relief of an outstretched Hennessy.

When the Slovak captain then put his side back in the game in the 57th minute with his second goal of the match looked as if Wales could face a tough final third. A reverse pass from Cech on the edge of the box cut out Collins and Gabbidon, leaving Mintal to drive home.

Hennessy fumbled a fierce shot from Petras two minutes later but fortunately the ball fell for a corner rather than an opposition shirt and then Craig Bellamy stretched his legs once more and Davies added a fifth in the final moments. The provider? Craig Bellamy. Qualification or no, John Toshack can but be proud of a performance which may put more bums on seats next time round.