Wales’ Euro 2024 play-off match against Lockyer begins after the team’s draw with Turkey.
Wales’ final Euro 2024 qualifier against Turkey ended in a 1-1 draw at home on Tuesday night at Cardiff City Stadium, with Luton defender Tom Lockyer starting for the Welsh side.
Robert Page’s team entered the match aware that automatic qualification for the competition in Germany the following year would only be possible if they defeated the Group D winners and Croatia dropped points against Armenia at home.
Despite having an early lead thanks to a goal from Neco Williams, they now advance to the play-offs in an attempt to qualify for the European Championship after Yusuf Yazici’s controversial penalty kick with 20 minutes left and Croatia’s 1-0 victory over Armenia.
They will play a one-leg play-off semi-final against either Finland, Iceland, or Ukraine on March 21. If they win, they will play another one-off tie five days later against Poland or Estonia, with home advantage determined by a draw on Thursday.
But for Town captain Lockyer, who was substituted in for Chris Basham due to a suspension, it was his 16th cap and his first in a qualifier since November 2019.
He made an impression by making three clearances, one interception, one blocked shot, passing with an accuracy of 84.8%, and taking a shot himself.
Harry Wilson spread the play wide to the left, and Williams cut inside with his right foot to find the bottom corner, giving the hosts a great early lead.
Wales continued to be in the lead and had three of their own spot-kick appeals denied, the loudest coming from Samet Akaydin’s corner-force collision with Brennan Johnson, but referee Matej Jug awarded none of them.
After the break, Page’s team gave up a very soft penalty when captain Davies made little contact on Yildiz, who threw himself over, and the Slovenian referee inexplicably pointed to the spot. Kerem Akturkoglu also missed from close range.
Turkey came within a whisker of taking the lead when Yusuf Sari’s long-range effort struck the crossbar, but Yusuf Yazici coolly sent goalkeeper Danny Ward the wrong way to level the scores.
A disappointed Page told the BBC, “I have to be careful what I say, it was a stonewall penalty against Brennan, one of the most obvious I have seen, and we have conceded the softest penalty I have ever seen,” as Wales attempted to find a winner after Johnson’s skillful finish was disallowed for offside.
This degree of frustration is overwhelming. I’m having trouble understanding it.
“However, the show? The guys, in my opinion, were outstanding. Everyone could see that we were playing for the win.
“We are currently getting ready for the playoffs. On Thursday, we will learn more about our team members.
I’m happy that it’s a home game. It’s amazing what our supporters accomplish. They facilitate the outcomes for us.
This location is a stronghold. Turkey, go back to Austria and Ukraine; we’ve had some amazing nights here. Now, Croatia.
“The audience has been instrumental in our success.”
