DANIEL JAMES MAINTAINED his impressive form for club and country by scoring the only goal of the game as Wales beat Belarus 1-0 in Monday’s friendly at the Cardiff City Stadium.
The young winger has starred for Manchester United in the early weeks of the season and transferred his club form onto the international stage with an impressive winner 17 minutes into the match against a lacklustre Belarus side.
Gareth Bale started the game on the bench and Ryan Giggs saw his side produce an improved display on the back of Friday’s disappointing late 2-1 victory over Azerbaijan in Euro 2020 qualifying.
Wales had chances to double their tally, with Bale guilty of missing a great opportunity, but in the end James’ second senior goal for Wales proved enough to make it back-to-back victories.
Giggs’ men managed only three shots on target against Azerbaijan but they tested Maksim Plotnikov inside the opening seven minutes here, the Belarus keeper parrying Harry Wilson’s left-footed shot following a swift attack.
Plotnikov could not get a hand to James’ fine curling effort into the bottom-right corner, however, with the winger collecting the ball from Jonny Williams and picking his spot after cutting in from the left.
The hosts went close to doubling their lead seven minutes into the second half when Wilson’s whipped delivery went through a sea of bodies and came back off the post.
Bale was brought on for James and missed a glorious chance around 10 yards from goal once picked out by Wilson, blazing over the crossbar with plenty of the goal to aim for.
Belarus offered little attacking threat in the remainder of the game but Wales also struggled to create further clear-cut chances, meaning another narrow win in front of the 7,666 spectators in attendance.
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Fine player, only a matter of time until united ruin him
@Buzz O Sullivan: you must have missed the start of the season with him so?
@Buzz O Sullivan:
Should have known you were a Liverpool fan. Manchester United are the reason Daniel James is now playing in the Premier League, He scored 3 goals already
@Just Some Guy: as I said only a matter of time…
@Buzz O Sullivan: here mate, this is not about United or Liverpool it is about a good young player scoring a good goal. Unbelievable how small minded fools bring it back to premier league football rivalry. Giggs is taking risks and playing young lads, more power to him.
@Seagoat returns: I bleed the red of Liverpool, everything in my life revolves around it. Ynwa
@Buzz O Sullivan: What a sad life that must be.
@Buzz O Sullivan: I’d hope that that’s sarcasm. Can’t understand how anyone could ‘bleed’ any pl side in this day and age given the flippant nature of mercenary players and management.
I doubted Daniel James when he first joined Manchester United but he has proved me wrong. Keep up the good work for club and country
He has been the only positive part of Uniteds start to the season for me.
Daniel James looks like a great young player. He only seems to score quality goals. Let’s hope one or two of our young lads in the 21s become as good as James, Wilson and ampadu
Welsh out in force
Add Jadon Sancho and Declan Rice to that Utd team and they’d suddenly be feared again