Wales Under-21s 0-0 Moldova Under-21s: Hosts unable to make dominance over Moldova pay dividends
Llanelli, Wales. 4th June 2021. Ioan-Calin Revenco of Moldova in action against Finley Stevens of Wales Wales u21 v Moldova u21 UEFA Euro Qualifier at Stebonheath Park on the 4th June 2021. Credit: Lewis Mitchell/YCPD.
Ten-men Wales failed to make their dominance count as they were held to a disappointing 0-0 draw with Moldova in their opening fixture of U21 Euros Qualification.
Paul Bodin’s were reduced to 10 men when Sion Spence saw a second yellow card for simulation.
Spence went down following a tackle but the referee waved away the Wales players’ penalty appeals.
The referee showed the Crystal Palace midfielder his red card as he was being stretchered off the field.
Wales best chance to win the game came in the final moments as substitute Lewis Collins headed over from close range.
The hosts were without George Ratcliffe, Brandon Cooper and Christian Norton for this fixture as all three were out with injury.
Dan Barden replaced Lewis Webb in goal for Wales in the only change from their 2-1 loss to the Republic of Ireland in March.
Moldova got the game underway at Stebonheath Park but it was Wales who dominated the early proceedings.
They could have taken an early lead on three minutes when Joe Adams drilled a cross towards Sion Spence who was unable to turn it on goal.
Wales continued to dominate the ball as all 11 of Moldova’s players camped inside their own half.
Spence went close just ten minutes later when Ryan Stirk played him in with a cutting pass but Julian-Sebastian Agachi was quick to the ground to deny him.
The former Barry Town United loanee continued to be in the thick of the action as he picked up a yellow card for the first foul of the game.
Wales continued to dominate but were unable to turn their pressure into goals.
Joe Adams used his quick feet to beat the Moldovan defender on the left wing but fired his shot straight at Agachi late in the first half.
Wales had a chance early in the second half as Niall Huggins used his pace to beat the Moldovan defenders.
His cross found Adams but the Brentford winger could only direct the ball over the crossbar.
Moldova’s first real chance came from a free-kick which was delivered to Dinis Ieseanu who was free at the back stick.
The defender was unable to get contact on the ball but it wouldn’t have counted anyway as he was flagged offside.
Wales were reduced to ten men with just over a quarter of the match remaining minutes when Spence saw a second yellow card.
He went down following a challenge from Daniiil Zaporojan in the box but the referee denied their penalty shouts.
Instead he deemed Spence to have dived and sent him off as he was being stretchered off with injury.
Adams almost headed the hosts into the lead moments later when he combined with Brentford teammate Finn Stevens.
His header fired off the crossbar as Wales best chance to take the lead went begging.
Moldova grew into the game with a man advantage but were unable to find a late winner.
Their best chance came through Valeriu Gaiu after he cut in on the right and sent his shot just wide.
Substitute Collins had a chance to win the game late on but he sent his header over the cross bar from 10 yards.
It was frustrating start to Wales qualification campaign as they failed to turn their dominance into goals.
They travel to Bulgaria in their next game in Group E.
Wales Under-21s manager Paul Bodin said to BBC Radio Wales Sport: “I’ve seen players go down with the slightest of touch, but in this instance, Sion is genuinely caught.
“We could hear the contact from our dug-out area and we’re all just thinking naturally it’s a penalty, but as I’ve seen him [the referee] run towards him pulling his hand out of his pocket with the yellow, I just feared the worst.
“And unfortunately that’s what happened. The fact that it took a few minutes to get the medical team on and get him strapped up and on a stretcher, I thought the ref might actually change his mind because he didn’t quite deliver the card until he was on the stretcher.”
Wales: Dan Barden, Fin Stevens, Billy Sass-Davies, Morgan Boyes, Eddy Jones, Ryan Stirk, Terry Taylor (C), Niall Huggins (Samuel Pearson, 63), Sion Spence, Joe Adams, Luke Jephcott (Lewis Collins, 89’).
Yellow Cards: Sion Spence 15’, Eddy Jones 36’
Red Card: Sion Spence 73’
Moldova: Iulian-Sebastian Agachi, Mihail Ștefan, Dinis Ieseanu, Daniiil Zaporojan, Ioan-Calin Revenco, Serafim Cojocari (Dan Puscas, 83), Cornel Cotogoi, Marius Iosipoi, Valeriu Gaiu, Nichita Moțpan, Virgiliu Postolachi
Yellow Cards: Marius Iosipoi 17’, Nichita Moțpan 55’
