BARNICOZ BLOG

Liverpool striker Ben Woodburn was eligible to play for England until his match-winning appearance from the bench against Austria

Teenager Ben Woodburn scored with a brilliant long-range strike four minutes after coming on for his international debut to breathe new life into Wales' bid to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.

Needing victory to maintain a realistic prospect of qualifying automatically, Wales were overrun by Austria in a goalless first half in which Marko Arnautovic and Marcel Sabitzer wasted good opportunities for the visitors.
The hosts continued to toil - seemingly to no avail - after the break until the 74th minute, when 17-year-old Woodburn unleashed a fierce 20-yard shot to send a packed Cardiff City Stadium wild.
With Serbia's victory over Moldova strengthening their position at the top of Group D, Wales remain four points behind the leaders with three games left.
However, Chris Coleman's side have narrowed the gap on the second-placed Republic of Ireland to two points following a draw for Martin O'Neill's men in Georgia.
They travel to face the Moldovans on Tuesday - while Ireland host the Serbs - before a trip to Georgia and a potential decider with the Irish in Cardiff next month.
Only the nine group winners in Europe's qualifying procedure automatically earn a place in next year's tournament in Russia, while the eight best runners-up enter the play-offs.
And although Wales' hopes of qualifying automatically remain out of their hands, the fact they still have any chance at all - and the manner in which Woodburn ensured that was the case - made for a delirious atmosphere in Cardiff.

Woodburn to the rescue

Even before they appeared to be heading for a stalemate against Austria, Wales' chances of qualifying were already hanging by a thread having drawn their five previous games.
Coleman had said they needed to win their remaining four fixtures to be in contention for automatic qualification and, knowing even a draw could be terminal, he boldly handed Derby forward Tom Lawrence a first competitive start for Wales, in an advanced midfield role alongside the returning Gareth Bale.
The Real Madrid forward was suspended for June's draw in Serbia, though he was less influential than usual as Austria dominated the early exchanges in Cardiff.
The visitors monopolised possession for long periods, searching patiently for opportunities to unlock the home defence but struggling to make their pressure count as Arnautovic blazed over from a promising position in the Welsh penalty area.

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The hosts improved in the second half, benefitting from Coleman's decision to switch from his favoured 5-4-1 formation to a 4-2-3-1 system designed to mirror and negate Austria's.
His moment of inspiration, however, was to bring on Woodburn.
Still just 17, the Liverpool player had been in senior Wales squads before without making it on to the pitch, and it seemed a brave move from Coleman to turn to the youngster in this moment of need.
Woodburn wasted little time in making his mark, controlling a loose ball five yards outside the Austrian penalty area, taking another touch to get it out of his feet and then driving a fabulous shot past a stretching Heinz Lindner at his near post.