Bale steals the show with match-winning hat-trick, but Dan James Wales’ stats make for encouraging reading for Leeds
Wales emerged victorious from a remarkable meeting with Belarus on Sunday, with the nation’s two wide-man having proven absolutely integral.
Bale at the treble
Rob Page’s men were back in action a short time ago.
After managing a credible 0-0 friendly stalemate at Finland during the week, the Dragons this afternoon turned their attentions towards an altogether more significant outing, versus Belarus.
The clash came amid Wales’ efforts to book a spot at next year’s fast-approaching Qatar World Cup.
Both countries, ahead of kick-off, were locked on three points apiece in the Group E table, desperate for a 2nd victory of the campaign to keep pace with Belgium and the Czech Republic.
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN – JUNE 12: Kieffer Moore of Wales (L) celebrates with Bale (R) after drawing with Switzerland during the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Group A match between Wales and Switzerland on June 12, 2021 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Marcio Machado/Getty Images)
And, when all was said and done in Kazan, it was Page’s Wales who, just, managed to get the job done.
A frantic 90 minutes of action, during which a trio of spot-kicks were award and netted, saw the matchup roll into injury time with the scoreline locked at 2-2.
Step forth, Gareth Bale.
After netting from the penalty spot in the 5th and 70th-minutes respectively, the Real Madrid wide-man rounded out a fine afternoon’s work with a match-winning hat-trick strike at the death, breaking Belarusian hearts in the process:
WALES WIN AT THE DEATH WITH BALE’S HAT TRICK GOAL 🏴 !!! pic.twitter.com/FPjOSitD75
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 5, 2021
James impresses
In turn, it has since come as little surprise to see Bale’s name, deservedly, take centre stage in the post-match chatter on Sunday evening.
As outlined above, however, the 32-year-old was not the only one of Wales’ attackers to have impressed versus Belarus.
The other? Dan James.
Explosive wide-man James was deployed on the left flank by boss Page this afternoon, and went on to shine amid an ever-threatening, all-action display.
It was his clever ball across the face of goal which teed up fellow winger Bale to net the Dragons’ 93rd-minute winner.
The extent of the 23-year-old’s impact is summed up perfectly by the stat-line showcased below, a sight which will no doubt be widely welcomed by all at new club Leeds United:
Daniel James’ game by numbers vs. Belarus:
90% pass accuracy
62 touches
10 crosses
9 duels won
4 take-ons
4 tackles
3 chances created
2 shots
2 interceptions
1 assistA constant threat. 💪 pic.twitter.com/nRYy00xZTT
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) September 5, 2021
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