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<\/p>\nWales saw Euro 2024 qutomatic qualification taken out of their hands in Armenia <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Welsh hopes of qualifying automatically for Euro 2024 were dented by a 1-1 draw in Armenia.<\/p>\n
Lucas Zelarayan came back to haunt Wales again with a fifth-minute opener before a Nair Tiknizyan own goal in first-half stoppage time restored parity.<\/p>\n
The draw helps neither side as far as joining already-qualified Turkey in the top two is concerned.<\/p>\n
Even beating Turkey in Cardiff on Tuesday would not be enough for Wales should Croatia win their final two fixtures.<\/p>\n
If Croatia win those games, then Wales will be involved in the March play-offs.<\/p>\n
Armenia\u2019s chances of a top-two place are almost certainly over, barring a Croatia collapse.<\/p>\n
Wales had a score to settle with Armenia after their humiliating 4-2 defeat in Cardiff five months ago, a result which left them playing catch-up in the race for next summer\u2019s tournament in Germany.<\/p>\n
Rob Page\u2019s side also had to turn the tide of history as Wales had never beaten Armenia in three previous meetings.<\/p>\n
Wales were unchanged from the side that produced last month\u2019s stunning 2-1 win over World Cup semi-finalists Croatia.<\/p>\n
Brennan Johnson missed that game through injury and the Tottenham forward, fresh from his first Spurs goal, had to make do with a place on the bench.<\/p>\n
Armenia \u2013 ranked 95 in the world and 67 places below Wales \u2013 showed nine survivors from the team who had won in Cardiff in June, including Grant-Leon Ranos and Zelarayan who both scored twice then.<\/p>\n
Wales were behind inside five minutes after failing to deal with a corner.<\/p>\n
Danny Ward hesitated before Joe Rodon\u2019s poor header looped towards Zelarayan, who shifted the ball onto his right foot and found the bottom corner with unerring accuracy.<\/p>\n
David Brooks fired over in reply and Neco Williams saw his effort deflected wide after Kieffer Moore had pounced on a home mistake.<\/p>\n
Moore headed wide but Wales were generally unable to sustain attacks, with Armenia dangerous on the counter.<\/p>\n
Vahan Bichakhchyan drove inches wide from one such raid, and Wales suffered another blow as Chris Mepham\u2019s challenge on Zelarayan earned him a yellow card to rule him out of the Turkey game.<\/p>\n
Wales went close after 37 minutes when Williams pulled the ball back into Harry Wilson\u2019s path and goalkeeper Ognjen Cancarevic was at full stretch to save.<\/p>\n
Then, just seconds from the interval, Connor Roberts sent over a long throw and Tiknizyan, under pressure from Rodon, headed into his own net.<\/p>\n
Johnson replaced Brooks within three minutes of the restart and the contest was developing a spicy edge, with Varazdat Haroyan cautioned for chopping down Wilson and Ethan Ampadu similarly punished for his reaction to the challenge.<\/p>\n
Armenia went mightily close as Bichakhchyan\u2019s chip drifted over the head of Ward and onto the crossbar.<\/p>\n
The crowd held its breath as Zelarayan seemed certain to bury the rebound but instead, the game\u2019s best player sliced it over.<\/p>\n
Armenia were slowly turning the screw, though Cancarevic was tested from outside the box by Jordan James and needed a second attempt to gather.<\/p>\n
Eduard Spertsyan had a clear sight of goal before being denied by one of an increasing number of last-gasp Welsh blocks.<\/p>\n
Moore\u2019s header was held by Cancarevic and in a frantic finale, Ward produced a flying stop to deny substitute Edgar Sevikyan, who later shot wide with the goal at his mercy.<\/p>\n