" Magnificent "
Fri Oct 06, 2017 6:28 pm
Georgia 0-1 Wales: Tom Lawrence wonder strike clinches magnificent World Cup victory
Lawrence strikes just after half-time to ensure race for Russia 2018 goes to the wire
6 OCT 2017
Magnificent Wales edged a step closer to Russia 2018 thanks to a Tom Lawrence wonder goal even Gareth Bale would have been proud of.
The 23-year-old hit a 48th minute thunderbolt to earn Chris Coleman's side three more precious World Cup points and make it a hat-trick of Group D triumphs this autumn.
If it was Liverpool teen wonder Ben Woodburn who revived the dream last time out in September wins over Austria and Moldova, on this occasion it was another young gun in the shape of Lawrence who rode to the rescue for Wales.
What a moment to score your first goal for your country.
The Derby man's stunning strike from the edge of the Georgian box saw Wales cement their position in second place behind Serbia.
What it also ensured is that Wales only need to draw Monday night's Cardiff City Stadium clash with Ireland to be guaranteed runners-up spot in the group.
They may still need to win that game as well to ensure a play-off position, with one unfortunate country missing out from the nine runners-up across Europe.
But Wales are very much on the front foot, their destiny completely in their own hands.
Wales had to prove in Tbilisi they could win without their talisman Bale and they made a bright enough start, Aaron Ramsey coming within a whisker of giving them a third minute lead.
The Arsenal ace was put through by Lawrence with the goal gaping, but struck his clear opportunity past the post.
Andy King then half hit a volley goalwards which Georgian goalkeeper Loria beat away, before Sam Vokes was fractionally wide with a deft flick as he skipped in front of his marker to meet a Ramsey cross from the right.
Lawrence had a further opportunity for Wales, driving his shot fractionally over from just outside the box and with Loria nowhere.
Georgia had the better of the first-half possession stats, 55 per cent to Wales' 45 per cent, but offered next to no goalbound threat during those opening 45 minutes and Wayne Hennessey was by and large untroubled.
Wales clearly had much greater menace in the final third, Joe Allen driving them on, and they will have been disappointed to head back into the dressing room with the game still locked at stalemate.
They didn't have to wait too much more time for the opener, though, Lawrence sending Wales' fans inside the stadium delirious with his 48th minute stunning strike.
It was beautifully worked, Lawrence collecting the ball 30 yards out, taking two lovely touches to move away from his marker, sizing up his shot and sending a fierce drive beyond a despairing Loria.
He did his best to keep out the shot, but Lawrence's effort was far too powerful.
It was just the tonic Wales needed to settle nerves and they went on to be utterly dominant, Vokes coming closing to making it 2-0.
But there was no way they were going to let Georgia back into the game.
Once again Wales kept a clean sheet. Once again they grabbed a priceless victory.
Bring on the Irish on Monday night for an absolute humdinger of a game, the biggest in Cardiff for many a moo
What will be the result of Wales v Republic of Ireland?
Lawrence strikes just after half-time to ensure race for Russia 2018 goes to the wire
6 OCT 2017
Magnificent Wales edged a step closer to Russia 2018 thanks to a Tom Lawrence wonder goal even Gareth Bale would have been proud of.
The 23-year-old hit a 48th minute thunderbolt to earn Chris Coleman's side three more precious World Cup points and make it a hat-trick of Group D triumphs this autumn.
If it was Liverpool teen wonder Ben Woodburn who revived the dream last time out in September wins over Austria and Moldova, on this occasion it was another young gun in the shape of Lawrence who rode to the rescue for Wales.
What a moment to score your first goal for your country.
The Derby man's stunning strike from the edge of the Georgian box saw Wales cement their position in second place behind Serbia.
What it also ensured is that Wales only need to draw Monday night's Cardiff City Stadium clash with Ireland to be guaranteed runners-up spot in the group.
They may still need to win that game as well to ensure a play-off position, with one unfortunate country missing out from the nine runners-up across Europe.
But Wales are very much on the front foot, their destiny completely in their own hands.
Wales had to prove in Tbilisi they could win without their talisman Bale and they made a bright enough start, Aaron Ramsey coming within a whisker of giving them a third minute lead.
The Arsenal ace was put through by Lawrence with the goal gaping, but struck his clear opportunity past the post.
Andy King then half hit a volley goalwards which Georgian goalkeeper Loria beat away, before Sam Vokes was fractionally wide with a deft flick as he skipped in front of his marker to meet a Ramsey cross from the right.
Lawrence had a further opportunity for Wales, driving his shot fractionally over from just outside the box and with Loria nowhere.
Georgia had the better of the first-half possession stats, 55 per cent to Wales' 45 per cent, but offered next to no goalbound threat during those opening 45 minutes and Wayne Hennessey was by and large untroubled.
Wales clearly had much greater menace in the final third, Joe Allen driving them on, and they will have been disappointed to head back into the dressing room with the game still locked at stalemate.
They didn't have to wait too much more time for the opener, though, Lawrence sending Wales' fans inside the stadium delirious with his 48th minute stunning strike.
It was beautifully worked, Lawrence collecting the ball 30 yards out, taking two lovely touches to move away from his marker, sizing up his shot and sending a fierce drive beyond a despairing Loria.
He did his best to keep out the shot, but Lawrence's effort was far too powerful.
It was just the tonic Wales needed to settle nerves and they went on to be utterly dominant, Vokes coming closing to making it 2-0.
But there was no way they were going to let Georgia back into the game.
Once again Wales kept a clean sheet. Once again they grabbed a priceless victory.
Bring on the Irish on Monday night for an absolute humdinger of a game, the biggest in Cardiff for many a moo
What will be the result of Wales v Republic of Ireland?
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Re: " Magnificent "
Fri Oct 06, 2017 7:23 pm
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Re: " Magnificent "
Fri Oct 06, 2017 7:44 pm
great discipline that the host of players one yellow away from a suspension didnt get a yellow (apart from lawrence - not sure if he was on the list).
Re: " Magnificent "
Fri Oct 06, 2017 8:45 pm
SwampCCFC wrote:great discipline that the host of players one yellow away from a suspension didnt get a yellow (apart from lawrence - not sure if he was on the list).
And SERBIA Got beat tonight
Re: " Magnificent "
Fri Oct 06, 2017 8:54 pm
Its all set up for us to qualify as group winners. Ireland are like a pub team
Re: " Magnificent "
Fri Oct 06, 2017 9:27 pm
Great result tonight It's all set up for Monday, wish I was there as the atmosphere is going to be amazing. Hopefully we can beat Ireland, and Serbia slip up in Georgia.
Re: " Magnificent "
Fri Oct 06, 2017 10:37 pm
Bananas wrote:Its all set up for us to qualify as group winners. Ireland are like a pub team
get real - we laboured to a narrow win against a much lesser team today - ireland lack quality going forward without keane but they will be very difficult to break down.
Re: " Magnificent "
Sat Oct 07, 2017 7:26 am
Bananas wrote:Its all set up for us to qualify as group winners. Ireland are like a pub team
I'm afraid that's nonsense on both points.
Re: " Magnificent "
Sat Oct 07, 2017 7:37 am
Bananas wrote:Its all set up for us to qualify as group winners. Ireland are like a pub team
Would that be the same pub team who are one point behind us and have already drawn with us in a game that in all fairness they probably deserved to win?
Re: " Magnificent "
Sat Oct 07, 2017 9:21 am
SwampCCFC wrote:Bananas wrote:Its all set up for us to qualify as group winners. Ireland are like a pub team
get real - we laboured to a narrow win against a much lesser team today - ireland lack quality going forward without keane but they will be very difficult to break down.
I’m with you on this one. The whole group lacks quality. I can’t imagine any of the teams getting to the knockout stages of the World Cup finals.
Re: " Magnificent "
Sat Oct 07, 2017 9:47 am
I think it is going to be a very physical game that will see another sending off.
Re: " Magnificent "
Sat Oct 07, 2017 11:00 am
Just looked it up. WALES are one of only six teams in Europe being unbeaten in the qualifiers, Thats how far this team have come. We are up to 13th in the FIFA rankings, so its about time we all started believing in this squad a the best ever Welsh squad, with or without Bale
Re: " Magnificent "
Sat Oct 07, 2017 11:08 am
Whistler wrote:Just looked it up. WALES are one of only six teams in Europe being unbeaten in the qualifiers, Thats how far this team have come. We are up to 13th in the FIFA rankings, so its about time we all started believing in this squad a the best ever Welsh squad, with or without Bale
And only lost three competitive matches in 25. Record played 25, W 14 D 8 L3. I doubt very much if any Welsh side has got any where near this in the past.
Re: " Magnificent "
Sat Oct 07, 2017 12:27 pm
JJ1927 wrote:Whistler wrote:Just looked it up. WALES are one of only six teams in Europe being unbeaten in the qualifiers, Thats how far this team have come. We are up to 13th in the FIFA rankings, so its about time we all started believing in this squad a the best ever Welsh squad, with or without Bale
And only lost three competitive matches in 25. Record played 25, W 14 D 8 L3. I doubt very much if any Welsh side has got any where near this in the past.
Look at it in another way 8 points from our 1st 6 games not qualifying material and it could cost us dearly! Win one of those 5 drawn games and we would be in playoffs already, and just needing win to qualify automatically, no doubt this is best wales team qualifying wise but could have been much better.