Georgia 0-1 Wales: Tom Lawrence strike boosts World Cup qualification bid By Jack Wilkinson
Last Updated: 06/10/17 10:57pm
Wales took a giant stride towards the World Cup play-offs with a crucial 1-0 victory over Georgia in Tbilisi. With Gareth Bale missing through injury, Tom Lawrence rose to the occasion, scoring his first international goal as Chris Coleman's men moved to within a point of leaders Serbia. Wales will secure play-off qualification if they avoid defeat against Republic of Ireland and can even win the group if they beat Martin O'Neill's side and Serbia fail to beat Georgia on Monday night. Sat bottom in the table of second-placed teams ahead of kick-off, Wales travelled to Georgia in need of a positive result to strengthen their qualification bid.
And they so nearly made the perfect start in an evenly-matched first half as Lawrence threaded Aaron Ramsey through on goal inside three minutes, but the Arsenal midfielder fired wide at the near post.
Georgia enjoyed the majority of possession but it was Wales who posed the greater attacking threat - Andy King's scuffed volley drawing a save from 'keeper George Loria on 17 minutes, before Sam Vokes dragged Ramsey's cross wide on the half hour.
Vokes laid Joe Allen's searching ball up field into the path of Lawrence shortly after, but the Derby midfielder fired over, before Wales' profligacy nearly came back to haunt them as Giorgi Kvilitaia headed Georgia's first chance wide on 37 minutes.
But Wales finally made a deserved breakthrough four minutes after the interval as Lawrence flashed a stunning drive beyond Loria from 20 yards.
Wales went in search of a second but Otar Kakabadze's last-ditch challenge prevented Vokes from doubling the lead at the end of an intricate attacking move, before the Burnley striker failed to punish Loria after he fumbled shot from Ramsey.
Wayne Hennessey was a bystander in the visitors' goal until 79 minutes when he was called into action by Giorgi Merebashvili's low drive, but he pulled off a fine save as Wales weathered a late Georgian storm to maintain their hopes of reaching second successive tournaments.
Player ratings
Georgia: Loria (7), Kashia (6), Kverkvelia (6), Kankava (5), Kazaishvili (6), Kvekveskiri (6), Kvilitaia (6), Gvilia (6), Merebashvili (6), Kakabadze (7), Navalovski (7)
Subs: Jigauri (6), Skhirtladze (5), Khocholava (NA)
Wales: Hennessey (7), Gunter (6), Davies (6), A Williams (7), Chester (6), Allen (7), Ledley (6), Ramsey (7), King (7), Lawrence (8), Vokes (7)
Subs: Robson-Kanu (6), Edwards (NA), Woodburn (NA)
Man of the match: Tom Lawrence
http://www.skysports.com/football/georgia-vs-wales/350202
