Wales managed to secure a goalless draw against Turkiye in the Nations League, maintaining their unbeaten streak under Craig Bellamy. Despite only attempting four shots and hitting the target once, Wales’ strong defensive play and a bit of luck helped them earn a point.
Turkiye dominated possession but were restricted to long-range shots for most of the first half.
Yunus Akgun had a golden opportunity to put Turkiye ahead in the 32nd minute. He broke free from the Welsh defence but was denied by Karl Darlow, who made a crucial block after rushing off his line. The game took a turn when Turkiye lost Hakan Calhanoglu to injury at halftime, affecting their midfield fluency.
Wales’ defence found it easier in Calhanoglu’s absence, though they faced a scare late on. Neco Williams was penalised for an apparent foul on Enes Unal, leading to a penalty. Kerem Akturkoglu missed the chance to win it for Turkiye, hitting the post despite sending Darlow the wrong way.
The draw leaves Turkiye and Wales at the top of Group B4 with 11 and nine points respectively. Wales remain unbeaten in five matches under Bellamy and could still overtake Turkiye for automatic promotion. However, Iceland’s 1-0 win over Montenegro means Wales could face relegation playoffs if they lose to Age Hareide’s team on Tuesday.
Turkiye will reflect on this match with regret if they fail to secure promotion against Montenegro next week. They generated 2.77 expected goals (xG) from 25 shots compared to Wales’ 0.24 xG but couldn’t score. Notably, Turkiye have been awarded more penalties than any other team in the Nations League but have missed three, second only to Serbia’s four misses.
The match highlighted both teams’ strengths and weaknesses as they continue their campaigns in the Nations League. While Wales showed resilience, Turkiye will need to capitalise on their chances better in future games.