Wales pay the penalty
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Article summary
Moldova 3-3 Wales Two second-half penalties ensured Moldova took a point from their opening Group 5 match in Cyprus.
Article body
Two second-half penalties ensured Moldova took a point from their opening UEFA European Under-17 Championship Elite round Group 5 match against Wales in Cyprus.
Bale strike
Wales began brightly, and goals from Joshua Klein Davies and Oliver Hewitt-Fisher gave them a 2-0 lead on nine minutes. But two minutes before the break Alexandr Pascenco pulled one back, and Iuri Bondarciuc levelled from the spot two minutes after the interval. Southampton FC's Gareth Bale restored the Welsh advantage on 50 minutes, but another Bondarciuc spot-kick eleven minutes before the end gave Moldova a point - leaving the two teams ahead of Spain and Cyprus on goals scored, after those sides drew 1-1.
Saturday games
On Saturday Moldova, who last qualified for the U17 finals in 2002, play Cyprus in Famagusta. Wales remain in Larnaca to face Spain.