Leicester Stars Meet In Dramatic EURO 2020 Clash In Baku
- Danny Ward helps Wales to a 2-0 victory over Turkey in UEFA EURO 2020 on Wednesday
- Wales now have four points from two fixtures after goals from Aaron Ramsey and Connor Roberts
- Çağlar Söyüncü also played 90 minutes in Baku as his side fell to a second consecutive Group A defeat
- Kasper Schmeichel, Youri Tielemans and Dennis Praet could all be in action tomorrow
Ward and Söyüncü both started and played 90 minutes for their respective countries in the Group A fixture, which was the two teams’ second game of the tournament. Wales had secured a 1-1 draw in their opener against Switzerland on Saturday, a day after Turkey’s 3-0 loss to Italy in Rome.
Turkey were backed by a sizeable following at Baku Olympic Stadium and Ward got an early feel of the ball to hold on to 2020/21 Foxes loanee Cengiz Ünder’s strike. Söyüncü was also called into action within the first 10 minutes in Azerbaijan, cutting out a dangerous cross as Wales started brightly.
The centre-back then had a glancing header cleared off the line on the half-hour mark, with Turkey starting to take more control of the contest. At the other end, Söyüncü was able to commit to a sliding challenge to stop Gareth Bale in his tracks as Wales stormed forward with a three-on-three attack.
Aaron Ramsay finally opened the scoring in the 42nd minute, getting on the end of Bale’s sublime cross to put his side ahead. The Crescent-Stars responded in the second half and Ward had to deal with Hakan Çalhanoğlu’s shot, before Kaan Ayhan’s header bounced into the shot-stopper’s grasp.
Rob Page’s Dragons had the chance to double their advantage from the spot, but Bale skied his penalty over the bar after being felled just inside the area.
There would be a late chance for Turkey when substitute Merih Demerial’s header looked to be heading into the top corner - until Ward flew across and sprang into action, making a brilliant diving save to tip the ball wide of goal.
And Wales managed to grab a second via Connor Roberts, who turned home Bale’s cross in stoppage time to seal an important victory. The result leaves them on four points from two games, with Turkey still bottom of the group without a point ahead of the final matchday.
On Thursday, three Leicester City stars could be in EURO 2020 action for Denmark’s clash with Belgium.
Kasper Schmeichel is likely to be the man between the sticks for the Danes, while Youri Tielemans and Dennis Praet could both line up in the Red Devils’ midfield. The Group B fixture gets underway at 5pm BST in Copenhagen.