On a dramatic night in the Welsh capital, hosts denied three major penalty calls.
Wales qualified for the Euro 2024 play-offs after a 1-1 draw with Turkey on a dramatic night in Cardiff.
Neco Williams’ seventh-minute goal, his third for Wales, gave them hope of closing the two-point gap with Croatia for the second automatic qualifying spot.
However, Yusuf Yazici’s controversial penalty 20 minutes from time, awarded after Wales had three stronger spot-kick appeals turned down, gave Turkey a share of the spoils and the point needed to top Group D.
In the end, Yazici’s equalizer was insignificant in denying Wales qualification because Croatia kept their end of the bargain by defeating Armenia 1-0 at home.
Wales advances to the March play-offs, where they will face a home semi-final against Finland, Iceland, and Ukraine.
The draw on Thursday will determine who Wales will face, with Poland and Estonia competing in the other semi-final.
Wales had given up control of their destiny by drawing Armenia on Saturday, and their performance was as bad as the result.
Following that disappointment, manager Rob Page made three changes, one of which was enforced with Chris Mepham suspended and Luton defender Tom Lockyer making his first competitive appearance for Wales since September 2021.
Wales’ makeweight attack in Yerevan also saw the introduction of Brennan Johnson and Nathan Broadhead.
Turkey’s captain, Inter Milan midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu, was absent due to illness, but Vincenzo Montella had started his managerial reign with three victories, including victories over Croatia and Germany, and their travelling support was as loud as ever.
Wales showed a ferocity that was lacking in Yerevan, as Broadhead capitalised on a blunder and curled wide of the far post.
But Wales did not have to wait long for the breakthrough as Harry Wilson found Williams in space on the left.
Williams cut inside on his preferred right foot and found the corner of Ugurcan Cakir’s net from 16 yards.
Turkey were visibly shaken, losing Lockyer in a corner and allowing discipline to slip with some unnecessary shoving as tempers flared.
Wales had three penalty appeals in a frantic nine-minute period.
Wilson was knocked down in a tangle of legs with Abdulkerim Bardakci, and Johnson was knocked down by a sliding Samet Akaydin tackle that did not make contact with the ball.
Akaydin then knocked Johnson down from behind in a crowded goalmouth, the challenge eluding both Slovenian referee Matej Jug and VAR.
Turkey substituted Manchester United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir for the injured Cakir, and Kerem Akturkoglu fired over three minutes before the break.
Bayindir was forced into action by Johnson, who was far more lively than his sluggish second-half performance in Armenia.
After the break, Johnson brought another full-stretch save from Bayindir, but Turkey should have been level after 58 minutes.
Akaydin met an Akturkoglu corner from six yards out, but his header was straight at Wales goalkeeper Danny Ward.
Ethan Ampadu’s header was saved by Bayindir before Turkey equalized in controversial circumstances.
Ben Davies was found to have fouled Kenan Yildiz, an incredibly soft decision that Yazici took advantage of casually. Turkey’s first goal in four trips to Wales.
Yusuf Sari hit the crossbar for Wales, and Johnson scored from an offside position.
At the final whistle, there were heated exchanges and a slew of yellow cards.
Wales extended their unbeaten streak to six games, but that will be of little comfort as the disappointment of missing out on automatic qualification sinks in.
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