Wales let a two-goal lead slip as Iceland stormed again to power a deserved 2-2 Nations League attract Reykjavik.
Brennan Johnson maintained his exceptional scoring streak and Harry Wilson was additionally heading in the right direction as Wales established a commanding interval benefit.
However Iceland substitute Logi Tomasson turned the sport within the house of three second-half minutes as Wales have been unable to stem a blue tide surging in the direction of them.
Wales got here into the competition buoyed by constructive performances and 4 Nations League factors from Craig Bellamy’s first two video games in cost final month.
Skipper Aaron Ramsey, Ethan Ampadu and Daniel James have been all lacking by harm as Bellamy shuffled his pack from the 2-1 win in Montenegro.
Out went Ampadu, Karl Darlow, Chris Mepham and Lewis Koumas with Johnson – a substitute in Niksic – amongst these returning after scoring in six consecutive video games for Tottenham.
Iceland – down in 71st on this planet rankings and 42 locations decrease than Wales – included Andri Gudjohnsen, the 22-year-old son of former Chelsea and Barcelona striker Eidur.
On a freezing night and tough pitch on this planet’s most northerly capital, Wales wanted time to heat up as Iceland made the preliminary working.
Wales profited from their first assault after 11 minutes as Ben Davies picked out Wilson with an outstanding ball excessive.
Wilson’s shot was partially saved by Hakon Valdimarsson who raced again in the direction of his aim to cease the ball going over the road.
Valdimarsson managed to do this however he might solely push it again for Johnson to poke the ball residence from a yard out for his fourth Wales aim.
Wilson and Johnson linking up was a relentless reason for concern for Iceland hosts, who created some promising positions earlier than being let down by wayward capturing.
Wilson’s deflected shot struck a submit with Valdimarsson rooted to the spot, however the Fulham ahead didn’t have to attend lengthy for his eleventh Wales aim.
Neco Williams’ raking cross picked out Wilson’s run from deep and the left-footed end was emphatic.
Gudjohnsen was inches from decreasing the deficit as Williams produced a superb goalline clearance and Johann Berg Gudmundsson curled a free-kick over.
Wales ought to have had a 3rd earlier than half-time as Wilson’s defence-splitting ball despatched Sorba Thomas by for a one-on-one contest that Valdimarsson gained.
The one first-half blot for Wales was a second reserving within the competitors for Johnson, ruling him out of Monday’s residence recreation towards Montenegro, and he made means on the break for Wes Burns.
There was a transparent shift in momentum at the beginning of the second interval as Mikael Ellertsson scooped over a wonderful likelihood and Orri Oskarsson induced actual issues for the Wales defence.
Oskarsson rattled the crossbar from 20 yards after which pressured a tremendous save from Ward.
Ollie Cooper broke the shackles to check Valdimarsson with a low drive, however Ward made an impressive save from Gudmundsson earlier than Tomasson’s decisive contribution.
It virtually acquired worse for the Dragons as Thorsteinsson clattered a submit two minutes from time.
However Wales held on for a draw as Bellamy turned the primary Wales supervisor to keep away from defeat in every of his first three aggressive matches.
What’s subsequent?
Wales’ Nations League marketing campaign continues this week once they host Montenegro on Monday, October 14; kick off 7.45pm.
