A late penalty miss from Kerem Aktürkoğlu denies Turkey a confirmed group win despite a dominant performance. A third straight draw between these two nations.
23 shots to 4 tells the story in Kayseri as Wales hang on to a point to keep the group’s top 2 positions undecided going into the final game. Wales have also tied their longest-ever unbeaten run with this draw, 11 games.
Turkey fail to convert on their constant pressure but remain in control of the group heading into Tuesday night’s game against already relegated, and point-less Montenegro.
Build Up
The top two teams in League B’s Group 4 go into the penultimate Nations League game separated by just two points, with Turkey topping the group on 10 points.
When these two teams faced off in Cardiff, Bellamy’s first game in charge, it was a 0-0 draw, despite a Turkish red card. Wales were the far better side, even before the red, but weren’t clinical, a trend in Bellamy’s reign so far. But since that game Turkey have gone unbeaten in the group, scoring eight in their last three games.
A win for Turkey will see them promoted to League A, whereas a Welsh win would see them top the group into the final game. 2nd in the group will play a playoff in March against one of the 3rd placed teams from League A, the winner of which will take a place in League A.
How It Happened
Turkey have been completely in control for the opening 25 minutes, but without a clear chance created. A mistake serves up the first big chance of the game to Wales. A 3 on 1, Mark Harris passes out left to Harry Wilson who crosses to the back post for Brennan Johnson, but the ball was slightly behind him. The Spurs winger tries to control it, but slips doing so and can’t get a shot off from his touch.
Seconds later a massive chance from a Welsh mistake. Yunus Akgün passes a defender but he then bizarrely tries to pass it when he’d created himself a shooting opportunity.
Wales are trying to play out from defence to limited success. A lot of play going through Sorba Thomas on the left side but he’s failing to dribble past Mert Müldür on the right side of the Turkish defence. Thomas needs more support and options if Wales are going to keep playing through him.
The biggest chance of the game so far falls for Akgün again. A beautiful through ball from Kerem Aktürkoglu puts Akgün one-on-one with Karl Darlow, but he shoots straight at the Welsh keeper. A massive escape for Wales, who need to improve in this game.
Wales have the ball in the net through Jordan James, but the flag goes up against Mark Harris. A very tight offside. It would have been very much against the run of play if it was onside.
Harry Wilson strikes the post from the edge of the box in added time. Wales’ first shot of the game. The ball almost rebounds to Brennan Johnson, but he overruns it.
Wales survive the first half in Kayseri. Turkey with 12 shots in the first half but just 3 on target and only one that actually forced Darlow into a big save, the Akgün one-on-one. Vincenzo Montella will be very frustrated his side doesn’t have the lead with the control they had in the first half.
On the opposite bench, Craig Bellamy will probably be happy that his team are trying to play with his style, but annoyed at the poor execution. Wales are feeling Ethan Ampadu’s absence through injury, Josh Sheehan isn’t playing badly, but he’s just not as talented in the holding role as the former.
The Welsh defence keeping the rest of the team in the game after 45 minutes but they will have to be better in the 2nd half.
For Turkey, they need to test Darlow more from the momentum and pressure they have Wales under. Only one or two big openings in the first half despite all their control.
Changes for both sides at half time, and a change of system for Wales. Johnson is upfront now, Thomas on the right and Dan James, on for Mark Harris, on the left flank in a 4411 with the ball. Thomas still dropping in as a wing-back out of possession, just on the opposite side now.
Enes Ünal misses a sitter with his first touch off the bench in the 67th minute. Akgün drives to the byline and cuts it back to the Bournemouth striker, but it hits his knee and goes wide. Minutes later, Ünal has an acrobatic effort blocked by a mixture of Neco Williams and Joe Rodon.
Arda Güler misses a chance you’d expect a player of his talent to score. The ball is cut back to him just inside the box, he takes a touch but shoots well over the Welsh goal.
Penalty for Turkey, Neco Williams slides in from the wrong side and it’s difficult to tell whether he won the ball or kicked Akgün’s foot into the ball, but the referee points to the spot. Akgün has been the best player on the pitch, he’s earned this outcome today.
Aktürkoglu hits the post from the spot! Darlow goes the wrong way, he’ll be relieved. Wales hang on again in Kayseri.
A defensive display worth celebrating for Wales. Not anywhere near their best with the ball in the fierce Turkish atmosphere, but they survive and get a point. They needed a win to take control of the group, but if Montenegro can get their first point/points of this Nations League campaign, Wales could still top the group, and anything but a loss will see them go into the promotion playoff. Wales are now on their joint longest-ever unbeaten run at 11 games (5W, 6D).
A difficult draw to take for Turkey, 24 shots but just 3 on target, including a late missed penalty. Quite a similar game to the reverse game between these two with the outcomes flipped. They will believe they’ve got the group sewn up though, and won’t have an extra game amongst World Cup qualifiers barring a shock loss to already relegated Montenegro.
Lineups
Turkey: Günok (GK), Müldür, Demiral, Bardakci, Elmali (Off: 75′), Kökçü, Çalhanoglu (C) (Off: 45′), Akgün, Güler (Off: 86′), Aktürkoglu, Yilmaz (Off: 65′)
Substitutes: Akaydin, Ayhan (On: 86′), Bayındır (GK), Haspolat, Kılıçsoy, Topçu, Yokuşlu, Yüksek (On: 45′), Yıldırım, Çakır (GK), Çelik (On: 75′), Ünal (On: 65′)
Manager: Vincenzo Montella
Wales: Darlow (GK), Roberts, Rodon, Davies (C), Williams, Sheehan, J. James (Off: 72′), Johnson (Off: 90′), Wilson, Thomas (Off: 72′), Harris (Off: 45′)
Substitutes: Allen, Brooks (On: 72′), Cabango, Colwill, Cullen (On: 72′), Dasilva, D. James (On: 45′), King (GK), Koumas (On: 90′), Mepham, Norrington-Davies, Ward (GK)
Manager: Craig Bellamy
This is a report written for Turkey vs Wales on 16/11/2024 that didn’t get published to FromTheSpot because there was no editor available at the time to upload it.
Nick Bird - Sports Journalist 