Wales Take On Romania At Home In Must-Win Clash

Wales must beat Romania next Tuesday to keep their Uefa Under-21 Championship hopes alive. They are fourth in group eight following a crushing 4-0 defeat against Bosnia and Herzegovina at Nantporth, Bangor. Manager Robert Page and his Welsh team now take on Romania at the same venue (6pm). That match will be shown live on S4C […]

Wales must beat Romania next Tuesday to keep their Uefa Under-21 Championship hopes alive.

They are fourth in group eight following a crushing 4-0 defeat against Bosnia and Herzegovina at Nantporth, Bangor.

Manager Robert Page and his Welsh team now take on Romania at the same venue (6pm). That match will be shown live on S4C Sgorio.

Liverpool striker Harry Wilson returned to the Wales under-21 team after duty with the senior squad and made his first appearance of this Championship campaign.

Wilson and Leicester City’s George Thomas were key players in the Welsh attack, but it was Dinamo Zagreb’s talented midfield player Amer Gojak who turned this match Bosnia’s way.

He was the outstanding player in the match and scored the first goal when he turned inside and fired low inside the near post after 26 minutes.

Wales were trailing 1-0 and, while Bosnia had the edge before half-time, manager Robert Page’s team were still in contention.

Gojak struck again after 52 minutes, while Marijan Cavar (71) and Luka Menalo (77) completed a decisive victory.

Romania lead the group after their 1-1 draw against Portugal, while Bosnia are two points adrift in second, Both teams have played five fixtures.

Wales are in fourth place, one point behind Switzerland, with a game in hand on all three teams above them.

There are two group eight fixtures on Tuesday when Portugal are at home against the Swiss, while Wales entertain Romania.

Swansea City’s Joe Rodon captained Wales, while Cameron Coxe and Mark Harris were the Cardiff City players in the starting line-up.

Coxe impressed down the right and have Bosnia problems with his driving runs forward.

Former Bluebirds player Rabbi Matondo, who left South Wales to sign for Manchester City, went on from the subs bench. Matondo was born on Merseyside before his family moved to the Cardiff area when he was young and the gifted winger qualifies for England and Wales.

He is a Wales under-21 international, but still has both options available.

Tyler Roberts, Cole DaSilva, Harry Wilson and Regan Poole all had opportunities for Wales, while Matondo had a 66th minute shot blocked.

But this was Bosnia’s night in North Wales and Wales must now come out firing against Romania on Tuesday.

Wales: Luke Pilling (Tranmere Rovers), Cameron Coxe (Cardiff City), Cole DaSilva (Chelsea), Regan Poole (Manchester United, on loan at Northampton), Joe Rodon (capt, Swansea City), Chris Mepham (Brentford), George Thomas (Leicester City), Matthew Smith (Manchester City), Tyler Roberts (West Brom), Harry Wilson (Liverpool), Mark Harris (Cardiff City).

Subs used: Rhys Norrington-Davies for DaSilva 46; Rabbi Matondo (Manchester City) for Thomas (62),Nathan Broadhead (Everton) for Harris.

Welsh squad subs not used: Owen Evans (gk, Wigan Athletic), Jack Evans (Swansea City), Mark Harris (Cardiff City), Joe Morrell (Bristol City, on loan at Cheltenham), Tyler Roberts (West Bromwich Albion, on loan at Walsall), Alex Babos (Derby County).

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