Coach Bellamy still unbeaten as Wales draw with Turkey in Nations League
Turkey were unbeaten at home in this competition since September 2020 before today, and they began this one brightly, too, with chances in quick succession for Kerem Akturkoglu and Merih Demiral, but both saw their efforts go sailing over the bar.
Midway through the first period, Wales were causing themselves problems, coughing up possession deep in their own half, leading to another Aktürkoğlu strike deflecting and looping narrowly wide.
Aktürkoğlu was at the heart of everything for The Crescent Stars, and it was his exquisite through ball which unlocked the Welsh defence and sent Yunus Akgun through on goal, but Karl Darlow made himself big to make the save.
Having held on for 41 minutes, Wales thought they had delivered a sucker punch to their opponents when Mark Harris found the net, but a maiden international goal was ruled out for offside.
That did at least give the Dragons belief, and in first-half stoppage time, a Harry Wilson strike cannoned off the base of the post and back out.
That was Wales’ only attempt of the half, having allowed their opponents 12, but the second half began more balanced, with both sides struggling to create clear chances.
That was until the half’s midpoint when a mazy Akgun dribble to the byline culminated with him cutting the ball back to Enes Unal, only for the ball to hit the striker on the knee and trickle wide from six yards out.
Minutes later, the Bournemouth man set himself for a more spectacular effort, but his goalbound overhead kick deflected off Ben Davies’ head and over the bar.
It seemed like the goal was never going to come for Vincenzo Montella’s side, as Guler and Akgun became the latest to miss from range, only for the referee to award them a penalty in the 87th minute when Connor Roberts caught Aktürkoğlu inside the box.
Aktürkoğlu sent Darlow the wrong way, but his delicate effort clipped the outside of the post and wide.
Turkey had done enough, though, to stay atop the group and extend their unbeaten head-to-head record to four. Wales, meanwhile, have now won just two of their last 15 away fixtures.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Yunus Akgun (Turkey)
