{"id":14576,"date":"2016-11-15T12:12:34","date_gmt":"2016-11-15T12:12:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jomec.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/?p=14576"},"modified":"2016-11-15T12:12:34","modified_gmt":"2016-11-15T12:12:34","slug":"wales-world-cup-hopes-hang-balance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/2016\/11\/15\/wales-world-cup-hopes-hang-balance\/","title":{"rendered":"Draw leaves Wales\u2019 World Cup hopes hanging in balance"},"content":{"rendered":"

A CHANGE of system in the back line, forced on Wales through injuries, hampered their hopes of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup when\u00a0they were held to a 1-1 draw by Serbia at the Cardiff City Stadium.
\nDespite taking the lead through Gareth Bale in the 30th minute, Wales were unable to hold on to the win. Newcastle striker <\/span>Aleksandar Mitrovic scored in the 85th minute to deny Wales a vital three points.<\/span>
\nDespite a strong start from Serbia, Wales took the lead on the half-hour mark. <\/span>
\nHal Robson-Kanu lived up to his cult hero status as he harried defender Nastasic into his own corner, before stealing the ball and finding Bale on the edge of the area. Bale made no mistake, and his low shot beat keeper Stojkovic to give Wales the lead. <\/span>
\nBoth sides had chances in the second-half of a tense, scrappy game. The best chance to secure the win fell to Bale in the 84th minute, but he could only find the post with a low shot from the corner of the penalty box. <\/span>
\nWales were left to rue that miss when, a minute later, Mitrovic\u2019s glancing header found the back of the net with the help of the upright. <\/span>
\nJoe Ledley took home the man of the match award with a tireless midfield display.<\/span>
\nWales remain unbeaten in group D, but their frustration was evident at the final whistle. With only one team able to qualify automatically from the group, Wales know they can ill afford to drop points. <\/span>
\nThis was Wales\u2019 third draw in a row, and leaves them third in the table with six points from four games.<\/span>
\nThe Republic of Ireland\u2019s win in Austria took them to the top of the group and Wales face them next at Lansdowne Road. With four points separating the teams, the stage is set for a dramatic showdown. <\/span>
\nWales changed their tactics against Serbia as injuries to key defender Ben Davies and back-up defender James Collins forced manager Chris Coleman\u2019s hand. <\/span>
\nThe home team lined up with a flat four at the back instead of their usual back three. The system left Wales looking narrow, and Coleman will surely return to his favoured tactic as soon as possible. <\/span>
\nWales were bolstered by the return of Arsenal\u2019s Aaron Ramsey and Stoke\u2019s Joe Allen, who were sorely missed in the fixture against Georgia. Ramsey has recently returned from injury, and looked off the pace at times despite lasting the full 90 minutes. <\/span>
\nSerbia have become something of a bogey team for Chris Coleman\u2019s men. Wales have lost their last two meetings against the Serbs 6-1 and 3-0. Unbeaten in the group, Serbia look a force to be reckoned with, despite not qualifying for a major tournament since 2010. The result puts them second in the group, two points behind leaders Ireland. <\/span><\/p>\n