AL RAYYAN: Wales captain Gareth Bale cut a frustrated figure against the United States for most of his country's first World Cup game since 1958, barely touching the ball early on let alone making the sort of inspirational impact the fans have come to expect.
Yet, once again, when the going got tough at 1-0 down in the dying minutes, Wales' 33-year-old all-time top scorer came to the rescue, using all his drive and experience to win a penalty against a tiring defence and then converting it brilliantly.
"He's never let us down, has he?" said coach Robert Page. The sentiment was shared by Wales' three million population, not least the raucous "Red Wall" who chanted his name and celebrated the reprieve as if they had won inside Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.
Page deserves credit for Wales' second-half transformation.
By bringing on towering striker Kieffer Moore for the diminutive and ineffective Dan James, he provided a much-needed focus for the Welsh attacks that changed the balance of play after the youthful United States had dominated the first half.
That switch also took the pressure off Bale, freeing him up to find more space to get into the box as he did when he was sliced down for his 82nd minute penalty.
It was Bale's 41st goal for his beloved homeland.
He never made a secret of his greater passion for Wales than for Real Madrid during nine years in the Spanish capital despite winning five Champions League titles, including scoring with a spectacular overhead kick in the 2018 final against Liverpool.
Once he held a flag with the cheeky message: "Wales, Golf, Madrid - in that order".
FITNESS ISSUES
Now Bale is with Los Angeles F.C., whom he helped to a first Major League Soccer Cup championship earlier this month with an extra-time equaliser before they won on penalties.
He has, however, only played 28 minutes of competitive football since September, due to fitness issues that were a major worry for Wales prior to the World Cup.
Club form has seldom been a barometer of how Bale performs for the national team, however, and anyway he almost single-handedly dragged them to the finals in Qatar with all three goals in their playoff wins over Austria and Ukraine.
After a series of agonising heartaches, Wales are at a World Cup for the first time since 64 years ago when a then little-known 17-year-old Brazilian called Pele scored to knock them out in the quarter-finals.
Their self-belief was high after they reached the Euro 2016 semi-finals and the Euro 2020 last 16.
So it was a shock for Wales in the first half when the United States basically overran them with one of the youngest teams in the tournament.
Christian Pulisic, 24, tormented the Welsh defence and put through a beautiful pass for Timothy Weah - the 22-year-old son of former World Player of the Year and current Liberia President George Weah - to open the scoring for the U.S.
Their zestful midfield trio of Yunus Musah, 19, Weston McKennie, 24, and Tyler Adams, 23 - the youngest captain at the World Cup - stifled Wales for 45 minutes and prevented playmakers Bale and Aaron Ramsey from working their magic.
But, as so often, Bale was to change all that in the blink of an eye.
Reuters
Tue Nov 22 2022
![Analysis - Soccer-Bale saves the day again as Wales make long-awaited World Cup return Analysis - Soccer-Bale saves the day again as Wales make long-awaited World Cup return](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-11/41669082912_QATAR.jpg)
Walker Zimmerman of the U.S. fouls Wales' Gareth Bale to concede a penalty, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Group B - United States v Wales - Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar - November 21, 2022. - REUTERS
![Ringgit dibuka tinggi berbanding dolar AS Ringgit dibuka tinggi berbanding dolar AS](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-11/71699450877_wang.jpg)
Ringgit dibuka tinggi berbanding dolar AS
Pada jam 8 pagi, ringgit meningkat kepada 4.6695/6735 berbanding dolar US daripada 4.6725/6745 semalam.
![Kim Pan-gon letak jawatan? Kim Pan-gon letak jawatan?](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/61718169354_TBKimPanGon.jpg)
Kim Pan-gon letak jawatan?
Kim Pan-gon dipercayai akan mengadakan sidang akhbar hari ini untuk mengumumkan peletakan jawatannya.
AWANI Ringkas: Syor ambil guru Bahasa Inggeris dari Singapura jadi tumpuan
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
![Suspek kes kematian Nur Farah Kartini direman tujuh hari Suspek kes kematian Nur Farah Kartini direman tujuh hari](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721098519_suspekbunuhNurFar.jpg)
Suspek kes kematian Nur Farah Kartini direman tujuh hari
Perintah reman terhadap suspek lelaki berusia 26 tahun itu dikeluarkan Hakim Nurul Mardhiah Mohammed Redza.
KPM teliti cadangan sukarelawan Guru Bahasa Inggeris dari Singapura
Sukarelawan berbentuk hubungan diplomasi yang dibiayai kerajaan Singapura bagi bantu tingkatkan penguasaan bahasa Inggeris murid di kawasan miskin bandar dan luar bandar, kata Menteri Pendidikan.
#AWANInews #SisiTVParlimen
#AWANInews #SisiTVParlimen
Niaga AWANI: [Pasca IPO] Apa hala tuju Johor Plantations Group?
Johor Plantations Group (JPG) memperoleh RM735 juta daripada penyenaraiannya di pasaran utama Bursa Malaysia sejak 9 Julai lalu. Bagaimanakah pelan JPG untuk terus berdaya saing pada masa hadapan?
Impact of cloud complexity on cybersecurity risk and AI's role in this mix
Organizations who are adopting multi-cloud or hybrid cloud environments are having to navigate new complexities that emerge as they expand on cloud. As these cloud environments lead to the expansion of attack surfaces, a global survey conducted by Gigamon found that 93% of IT and security leaders predict cloud security attacks will increase this year.
[Data & Statistik] Prestasi Bursa Malaysia setakat 16 Julai 2024
Jumlah dagangan meningkat kepada 5.36 bilion unit bernilai RM3.95 bilion daripada 4.58 bilion unit bernilai RM3.72 bilion pada Jumaat.
[Data & Statistik] Kedudukan MYR berbanding SGD setakat 16 Julai 2024
Niaga AWANI bawakan prestasi terkini prestasi MYR berbanding SGD.
[Data & Statistik] Prestasi ringgit setakat 16 Julai 2024
Ketua Ahli Ekonomi Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid berkata walaupun ringgit merosot, kontrak niaga hadapan Dana Fed menunjukkan bahawa penurunan kadar faedah mungkin akan berlaku pada September depan.
![Piala Dunia FIFA Qatar 2022 capai kejayaan dalam segenap aspek - Penganjur Piala Dunia FIFA Qatar 2022 capai kejayaan dalam segenap aspek - Penganjur](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-12/41671402327_LionelMessi.jpg)
Piala Dunia FIFA Qatar 2022 capai kejayaan dalam segenap aspek - Penganjur
Piala Dunia ke-22 berjaya menghimpukan pelbagai lapisan masyarakat yang berbeza budaya dan agama menyampaikan mesej keamanan melalui sukan.
![Piala Dunia Qatar 2022: Pelanggan Pek Sukan Astro boleh akses sepenuhnya 64 perlawanan Piala Dunia Qatar 2022: Pelanggan Pek Sukan Astro boleh akses sepenuhnya 64 perlawanan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-09/41662037512_TBASTROQATARFIFA.jpg)
Piala Dunia Qatar 2022: Pelanggan Pek Sukan Astro boleh akses sepenuhnya 64 perlawanan
Demam Piala Dunia FIFA Qatar 2022 semakin terasa apabila 32 pasukan bakal berentap bagi menjulang piala terulung dalam sukan bola sepak.
![Kerajaan setuju RTM runding dapatkan hak penyiaran Piala Dunia 2022 - Annuar Kerajaan setuju RTM runding dapatkan hak penyiaran Piala Dunia 2022 - Annuar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-12/71640252311_TBANNUARMUSA.jpg)
Kerajaan setuju RTM runding dapatkan hak penyiaran Piala Dunia 2022 - Annuar
Keputusan rundingan itu akan diketahui dalam masa terdekat.
![RWC 2019: Rusia kecundang sekali lagi, dibelasah Samoa 9-34 RWC 2019: Rusia kecundang sekali lagi, dibelasah Samoa 9-34](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2019-09/81569328474_RugbyUnion.jpg)
RWC 2019: Rusia kecundang sekali lagi, dibelasah Samoa 9-34
Rusia mengalami kekalahan kedua dalam kempen Piala Dunia Ragbi 2019 selepas dibelasah Samoa 9-34 dalam perlawanan yang berlangsung di Stadium Ragbi Kumagaya, Jepun.
![RWC 2019: England belasah Tonga 35-3 RWC 2019: England belasah Tonga 35-3](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2019-09/61569156065_rugbyworldcup.jpg)
RWC 2019: England belasah Tonga 35-3
Pasukan rangking ketiga dunia England berjaya menumpaskan pasukan tangga ke 15 Tonga dengan kemenangan selesa 35 berbalas tiga dalam perlawanan di Sapporo Dome pada petang sabtu.
![Debar sepak mula makin terasa, semangat #webelangtogether kian membara Debar sepak mula makin terasa, semangat #webelangtogether kian membara](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2018-12/81543665334_AFF.jpg)
Debar sepak mula makin terasa, semangat #webelangtogether kian membara
Penyokong Malaysia dan Thailand mula membanjiri Stadium Nasional Bukit Jalil bagi menyaksikan pertemuan separuh akhir pertama Kejohanan Bola Sepak Piala AFF Suzuki 2018 malam ini.
!['GRO Piala Dunia' dicekup 'GRO Piala Dunia' dicekup](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2018-06/61530328946_GROWorldCup.jpg)
'GRO Piala Dunia' dicekup
Bahang saingan bola sepak Piala Dunia yang semakin menghangatkan kini turut digunakan pusat hiburan bagi melariskan perniagaan mereka.
!['Sejarah hitam' Lampard tahun 2010 permulaan detik bersejarah buat bola sepak 'Sejarah hitam' Lampard tahun 2010 permulaan detik bersejarah buat bola sepak](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2018-06/71530175778_Lampard.jpg)
'Sejarah hitam' Lampard tahun 2010 permulaan detik bersejarah buat bola sepak
Peristiwa berkenaan menjadi kontroversi dalam dunia bola sepak dan juga menjadi detik bersejarah buat FIFA, di mana akhirnya FIFA memutuskan untuk memasukkan teknologi bantuan pengadil.
![Toni Kroos wira kebangkitan Jerman Toni Kroos wira kebangkitan Jerman](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2018-06/41529791607_ToniKroos.jpg)
Toni Kroos wira kebangkitan Jerman
Toni Kroos menjadi wira Jerman apabila menjaringkan gol kemenangan dalam masa kecederaan untuk mencerahkan peluang pasukannya mara ke pusingan kalah mati.
![De Gea akan bangkit, kata penolong jurulatih Sepanyol De Gea akan bangkit, kata penolong jurulatih Sepanyol](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2018-06/81529325584_DeGea.jpg)
De Gea akan bangkit, kata penolong jurulatih Sepanyol
Carlos Marchena berkata penjaga gol Sepanyol, David de Gea, masih mendapat sokongan daripada rakan sepasukan dan akan bangkit daripada kesilapan yang dilakukan ketika berdepan Portugal.