Wales 2-0 Hungary: Ramsey brace secures Euro 2020 qualification
Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey celebrates scoring one of his two goals against Hungary. (Image: Mike James)
A returning Aaron Ramsey was the match-winner as Wales qualified for the 2020 European Championships.
Ramsey – making his first start of the campaign – scored twice in an exceptional performance which lit up the Cardiff City Stadium.
Wales had looked assertive throughout and it was a continuation of a coming of age for Ryan Giggs’ young Wales side.
Giggs leads Wales into a major tournament in his first qualifying campaign in charge, a feat only matched by Jimmy Murphy.
Aaron Ramsey sent the Red Wall into delirium with the opening goal in the first quarter of the match. A move involving Joe Allen, Joe Morrell was finished off with a pinpoint Gareth Bale cross being met by Ramsey on his 60th appearance for Wales.
A counter-attacking move which had claims of a Hungarian penalty almost saw a second for Wales. Kieffer Moore – on his fifth consecutive start – went close to an all-important second goal but his header went agonisingly wide from a Bale cross.
In search of an equaliser, Botond Barath headed over from a free-kick as Hungary sought a quick response.
Wayne Hennessey showcased his effort to cause with two heroic saves to deny Hungary an equaliser. Adam Szalai first denied after taking down Szboszlai’s header before saving Rolland Sallai’s rebounded shot.
Hennessey’s double-save was a prompt for Wales to grab a second.
Wales seized the initiative by adding a second goal immediately after the restart. Kieffer Moore’s attempted scissor kick was headed on Chris Mepham who flicked it to Ramsey who expertly finished past Gulácsi from a tight-angle.
Ethan Ampadu who made way for Joe Allen from Saturday’s victory was introduced for Joe Morrell.
Bale in search of his own goal put over a free-kick from just outside the area as Wales tried to assert their dominance.
Wales were managing the game well, drawing cheap fouls from Hungary as Marco Rossi’s side began to lose their cool.
Ramsey in search of his hat-trick was denied by Gulácsi after picking up a scrap from Dan James’ attempted pass.
Ryan Giggs’ side were able to see out the match, thwarting any late comeback from Hungary in a composed performance.
Wales: Wayne Hennessey, Connor Roberts, Chris Mepham, Tom Lockyer, Ben Davies, Joe Allen, Joe Morrell (Ethan Ampadu 49), Gareth Bale (C) (Harry Wilson 87), Aaron Ramsey, Daniel James, Kieffer Moore
Substitutes:
Adam Davies, Tom King, Chris Gunter, James Lawrence, Ashley Williams, Harry Wilson, Sam Vokes, Ethan Ampadu, Dylan Levitt, Tyler Roberts, Rabbi Matondo, Will Vaulks
Hungary: Gulácsi, Lang, Nagy (István Kovács 59), Barath, Dzsudzsák (C) (Roland Varga 72), A. Nagy, Szalai, Szoboszlai, Lovrencsics, Pátkai, Sallai (Filip Holender 83)
Dibusz, Kovácsik, At. Szalai, Gazdag, Feczesin, Vida, Kovács, R. Varga, Pávkovics, Holman, Bese, Holender
Read how Wales qualified for Euro 2020 here:
(Featured Image: Rhys Neville and Will Cheshire)
