Wales Vs Belgium Draw, Daniel James Et Al Ensure Play-off Tickets

Wales national team winger Daniel James (Instagram @danieljames)

JAKARTA - The Welsh national team has confirmed their ticket to the play-off phase of the 2022 World Cup qualification for the European zone after holding to a 1-1 draw with Belgium in the final Group E match at Cardiff City Stadium, Tuesday local time (Wednesday Indonesian Western Time).

According to Antara, Belgium took the lead thanks to Kevin De Bruyne's curling shot that went past several players and was out of reach for goalkeeper Danny Ward in the 12th minute.

The hosts were able to find the back of the net in the 32nd minute when the Belgians failed to anticipate Daniel James' cross and it was used by Kieffer Moore to net the round skinny into the visitors' goal.

Belgium came close to restoring their lead five minutes from halftime but Thorgan Hazard's volley from De Bruyne's cross still hit the post.

Six minutes before the dispersal of normal time, Wales almost turned to victory but Neco Williams' accurate shot which had aimed accurately into the top corner of the goal was anticipated through a brilliant save from goalkeeper Koen Casteels, forcing the 1-1 scoreline to last until dispersal.

However, the draw was enough for Wales to lock up the runners-up position in Group E with a collection of 15 points and move into the play-off phase in order to keep the chance following Belgium, who had already qualified for the 2022 World Cup finals.

In another concurrent match in Prague, the Czech Republic beat Estonia 2-0 thanks to goals from Jakub Brabec and Jan Sykora.

Unfortunately, the victory was only enough for the Czechs to finish third in Group E with 14 points.

Even so, the Czechs will also participate in the playoff phase through their path of achievement in the 2020/21 UEFA Nations League as well as Austria.

Wales, Czech Republic, and Austria will find out each other in the play-off semifinals in the draw on November 26.

The play-off phase will compete for the remaining three tickets to the 2022 World Cup and is scheduled to take place in March next year.