Wales upstage Turkey 2-0 despite Bale penalty miss

Agencies Baku Wales secured their first win at the Euro 2020 with a 2-0 victory over Turkey in Baku on Wednesday in a game that Gareth Bale missed a penalt...

AgenciesBakuWales secured their first win at the Euro 2020 with a 2-0 victory over Turkey in Baku on Wednesday in a game that Gareth Bale missed a penalty.Wales took the lead shortly before the break after Ramsey, who had already missed two great scoring chances, was found on the run by a clinical Bale pass, controlled the ball with his chest and whipped it into the net.Connor Roberts wrapped up matters deep into stoppage time off Bale to leave the 2016 semi-finalists well-placed for a last-16 berth.Bale stepped up to take a spot-kick in the second half but he fired the ball high over the bar as his search for a first Wales goal since October 2019 goes on.Turkey, who were backed by the majority of the 30,000 fans in Baku, put up a good fight but were wasteful and didn’t manage to convert their good chances into goals.Wales went top of Group A with four points, one ahead of Italy who play Switzerland later on Wednesday. The Swiss have one and Turkey remained in zero, with a Swiss win against Italy all but assuring them of a group stage exit as in 2016.Bale, Wales captain, said: “I’m absolutely delighted with the win, we fought hard, worked our socks off, yes I missed a penalty but I feel I showed good character to keep going. That second goal at the end was the icing on the cake. Aaron got in a few times, we’ve always linked up well. It was important to get the victory today.”Wales, unchanged from their opening draw with Switzerland, began in lively fashion. In the seventh minute, Bale sent Ramsey clear but Ugurcan Cakır 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.