Gareth Bale set up both Aaron Ramsey and Connor Roberts as Wales moved on to four Group A points.
Wales moved on to four points from two UEFA EURO 2020 Group A matches and inflicted Turkey’s second defeat as Aaron Ramsey and Connor Roberts struck late in each half in Baku, and it might have been more as Gareth Bale, who made both goals, missed a penalty just past the hour.
Match in brief
Wales, unchanged from their opening draw with Switzerland, began in lively fashion. In the seventh minute, Bale sent Ramsey clear but Uğurcan Çakır blocked at point-blank range. Burak Yılmaz was denied by a Chris Mepham block but Wales were having the better of the first-half chances, Kieffer Moore and Ramsey both going close.
Ramsey’s frustration ended on 43 minutes with a perfectly-timed run, chest-down and poked finish after Bale produced a superb lofted pass to set up the chance. Just before the hour Uğurcan Çakır denied Ramsey before Zeki Çelik brought down Bale just inside the box but the captain blazed the penalty over.
That was the cue for Turkey, knowing defeat would end their hope of a top-two finish in the group, to go for an equaliser with Burak Yılmaz leading from the front. But Wales did not sit back and Uğurcan Çakır was made to work by Bale’s header. Turkey then broke and Ramsey, racing back, produced a crucial saving tackle on substitute Halil Dervişoğlu. As time ran out, Wales won a corner, Bale dribbled up the byline and then cut back for Roberts to spark wild Welsh celebrations.
Star of the Match: Gareth Bale (Wales)
“Great leader on the pitch, unlucky with the penalty but he decided the game with his final passes and dribbling.”
Key stats
- Ramsey is the fourth Wales player with multiple career final tournament goals after Bale (3 at UEFA EURO 2016), Hal Robson-Kanu (2 at UEFA EURO 2016) and Ivor Allchuch (2 at 1958 FIFA World Cup).
- Ramsey is the first Wales player to score at more than one final tournament and now their outright second all-time UEFA European Championship scorer including qualifying on eight, one ahead of Ian Rush.
- Wales have kept 12 clean sheets in their last 17 international matches.
- Roberts has scored two international goals in 28 appearances; this was his first goal for Wales since September 2018.
- This was the 300th match at a UEFA EURO final tournament.
Line-ups
Turkey: Uğurcan Çakır; Zeki Çelik, Kaan Ayhan, Çağlar Söyüncü, Umut Meraş (Mert Müldür 72); Kenan Karaman (Halil Dervişoğlu 75), Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Okay Yokuşlu (Merih Demiral 46), Ozan Tufan (Yusuf Yazıcı 46), Cengiz Ünder (İrfan Can Kahveci 83); Burak Yılmaz
Wales: Ward; Roberts, Mepham, Rodon, B Davies; Morrell, Allen (Ampadu 73) Bale, Ramsey (Wilson 85), James (N Williams 90+4); Moore
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