Wales beaten by Romania in friendly clash

Phil Blanche, Press Association, Bucharest

Wales signed off for the summer with a 2-1 defeat to Romania in Bucharest, continuing a barren run in friendly internationals stretching back to 2008.

Romania led through Florian Coman’s tidy finish before substitute David Brooks – who had only been on the pitch for two minutes – equalised with a sweet left-foot volley after being picked out at the far post by Daniel James.

Wales had chances to turn around the contest completely, but Adrian Rus restored Romania’s lead 10 minutes from time.

So Wales are still without a friendly away victory since November 2008 when current manager Craig Bellamy scored the winner in Denmark.

This was the first meeting between the two nations since a 1994 World Cup qualification decider when Gheorghe Hagi broke Welsh hearts in Cardiff.

The 61-year-old is in charge of Romania again and this was the first home game of his second spell, ensuring a larger attendance than might have been expected for an end-of-season friendly between two countries who missed out on this summer’s World Cup.

Hagi named a completely different line-up to the one that began the midweek draw in Georgia, while 19-year-old Coventry midfielder Kai Andrews made a first Wales start with five changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Ghana on Tuesday.

Danny Ward, Rhys Norrington-Davies, Nathan Broadhead and Brennan Johnson were all given the nod as Karl Darlow, Dylan Lawlor, Jay Dasilva, Sorba Thomas and Brooks made way.

Lewis Koumas was again among the substitutes after his face-saving equaliser against Ghana.

Wales might have been in front inside four minutes when Ethan Ampadu was left unattended from a Neco Williams corner but the captain, who was winning his 63rd cap, failed to end his wait for an international goal as his header sailed wide.

In what was an impressive start from the visitors, Johnson warmed Otto Hindrich’s palms from close range and Kieffer Moore’s header was clutched by the home goalkeeper.

But thereafter the most dangerous moments came from Romania, with Ward pushing out Tudor Baluta’s volley and Vlad Dragomir firing wide.

Romania had the ball in the net after 26 minutes when Louis Munteanu struck a screamer from 20 yards.

Munteanu was clearly exasperated by an offside flag and he might have been more vexed by television replays which suggested the goal should have stood.

Moments later Munteanu was gifted another chance by Ward’s poor pass, but the Wales goalkeeper redeemed himself with an athletic stop.

Moore’s header from a Williams free-kick just cleared post and crossbar as Wales sought to regain the initiative and James tested Hindrich by the base of a post straight after the restart.

Ward tipped over Coman’s free-kick but had no chance when Wales were caught out by Tony Strata’s crossfield ball after 52 minutes.

Darius Olaru slipped down the outside and cut it back for Coman to find the net with perfect placement.

Triple substitution

Wales responded with a triple substitution and the move paid off instantly as Brooks dispatched his seventh international goal.

Koumas and Chris Mepham were both denied and Romania took full advantage when Rus punished slack marking with a well-positioned header.

David Matei hit a post as the Wales defence creaked alarmingly and Rus was again the hero with a goal-line clearance to deny Koumas.