Wales player ratings v USA: How Page boys performed
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World Cup 2022: Wales player ratings v USA
Gareth Bale came to the rescue once again as his late penalty earned Wales a 1-1 draw against the USA in their World Cup Group B opener.
Here, we look at the Wales player ratings in their first appearance at the finals in 64 years.
WAYNE HENNESSEY: Preferred to Danny Ward and in the right place to prevent a Joe Rodon own goal. Little chance with Timothy Weah’s finish. 6 (out of 10)
NECO WILLIAMS: Struggled to handle Weah early on and lost the livewire winger for the United States’ goal. 5
CHRIS MEPHAM: Unfussy defending, kept his head as the USA piled on the pressure in the first half. Booked. 6
JOE RODON: Almost headed the ball into his own net and sold himself too easily in the build-up to the goal. 5
BEN DAVIES: Tottenham defender almost equalised with a spectacular diving header tipped over the crossbar by Arsenal keeper Matt Turner. 6
CONNOR ROBERTS: Could not get forward in the first half. Last-ditch challenge denied Christian Pulisic in the second. 6
ETHAN AMPADU: Playing in a deep-lying midfield role, he regularly won the ball back but too often had no one in front of him to pass to. 7
AARON RAMSEY: Sadly the only highlights from the Nice midfielder’s performance were in his hair. 4
HARRY WILSON: Surprise inclusion in the starting line-up but was unable to get a foothold as the USA squeezed the life out of the midfield. 5
GARETH BALE: Won the penalty, scored the penalty. Wales’ talisman came good when it mattered, yet again. Booked. 7
DANIEL JAMES: Barely got on the ball and when he did the Leeds wideman, on loan at Fulham, showed no appetite to attack. Hooked at half-time. 4
SUBSTITUTES:
KIEFFER MOORE: (for James, 46) Changed the match, instantly giving Wales the focal point in attack they were so badly lacking. 8
BRENNAN JOHNSON: (for Williams, 79) Fresh legs for the closing stages and had a late chance saved. 6
SORBA THOMAS (for Wilson, 92) On to run the clock down in stoppage time. 5
JOE MORRELL (For Ampadu, 96) Four-minute run-out for the midfielder. 5
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
