USA v Wales 1-1: World Cup 2022 – as it happened

An intriguing set of fixtures threw up not entirely unexpected results, with many predicting a draw between these two sides this evening. Still, it was as entertaining as you’re likely to get in a 1-1 tie, and we had some trademark Gareth Bale heroics to cap off an enjoyable game.

Read the match report here.

We’ll be back for Argentina vs Saudi Arabia tomorrow; set your alarm clock or pull an all-nighter depending on where you are based in the world.

His assessment of the second half: “Wales stepped up the pressure and we had some good counter-attacking opportunities but I thought the guys dealt with it well. We kept going until the end, we left everything out there.”

Have they still got some left in the tank for England on Friday?

It seems like the officials at this World Cup are keen to punish time-wasting by adding on as much as needed at the end. Perhaps the classic five mins of injury time is no more?

Enjoying the amount of time that is being added on by the officials at #QatarWorldCup2022 there is too much time wasting in football!

— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) November 21, 2022

Helluva battle.#USMNT 🤝 @Cymru pic.twitter.com/Sk0RAjRKiM

— U.S. Men's National Soccer Team (@USMNT) November 21, 2022

He says “he would rather the three points” than having his first World Cup goal to his name, and while a classic cliche, you feel like he’s being genuine.

The Wales manager was quick to point out that the replacement of Dan James with Kieffer Moore was nothing against the young Leeds player, they just needed something different.

On his players’ injury concerns, he said: “The medical team have got work to do, some players are cramping up in the last five minutes.”

The oldest cliche in football was applicable tonight as Wales looked like a team transformed in the second period after having been tepid at best before the interval.

American coach Greg Berhalter will be wondering where his team’s running went in the second 45 and will likely be disappointed they didn’t make better use of the opportunities they had to break on Rob Page’s dragons.

A frantic end to a game that looked like it might never get going in the first half. Hard to know who will be happier with this result, although both would have probably taken a draw if offered pre-game.

The results against Iran may decide it for Wales and the USA. England is looking in good form, with their 6-2 thrashing of Iran being the standout result of the World Cup to date.

Acosta picks up a yellow card for a challenge on Bale with Matt Turner closer to the halfway line than his own goal. Smart move from the American.

Thomas is on for Harry Wilson, who looks like he picked up a knock or several this evening. Hopefully, he’ll be back for Iran on Friday.

Johnson is played through on goal, but his angle is tight and he had two men tracking back. Gareth Bale was looking for the pass in the centre though, and he might have some questions for the youngster after he shoots straight at Turner.

Nine added minutes, plenty of time for either side to find a winner.

The Eagles are pushing to get themselves back in front with goalscorer Timothy Weah showing some nice stuff down the right-hand side. That will be his last action of the game as he’s replaced by Jordan Morris.

Gareth Bale always scores when it matters. What can you say? #USAvWAL

— Maximiliano Bretos (@MaxBretosSports) November 21, 2022

GOAL: Gareth Bale, calm as you like, slots in past Matt Turner in goal. He loves to score in the biggest games and this was certainly what his team needed.

PENALTY: Ream goes in rashly on Bale and it’s as easy a decision as you’re likely to get. Bale to take it.

Rob Page rolls the dice with Brennan Johnson brought on to try and nick a goal and get the Dragons level. Neco Williams makes way with a shake of the head.

Gregg Berhalter rings the changes with Dest, Musah and Sargent coming off and Yedlin, Acosta and Haji Wright brought on to try and recapture that crucial momentum.

Still, they’ve got the lead, so they won’t be too concerned as it stands.

Chants of “USA” ring around the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium as the American fans try to rouse their players into something like the performance we saw in the first half.

Brenden Aaronson is on for Weston McKennie.

Turner saves well from a Ben Davies diving header, and Wales are certainly knocking on the door now. Moore gets his head on the subsequent Harry Wilson corner, but his free header goes some distance over the bar.

He’ll be kicking himself for missing that.

An hour down, and this is how we’re looking: