SO near yet so far for Wales.
Rob Page’s Dragons came within a whisker of clinching a place at the Euros for a third successive time – only to miss out in heart-breaking fashion.
9
9
9 9
Former Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny was the penalty shoot-out hero as he dived full stretch to save from Dan James.
And with Danny Ward unable to get to any of the five pens from the visitors, it proved to be enough.
So it is Robert Lewandowski and Poland who take their place in Germany in June while Wales will be wondering what might have been.
It was the first time they have ever been in a penalty shoot-out and this morning will probably hope it is the last.
Because it was a devastating way to go out – and Page will know his team could not have given any more.
This was always going be a much tougher test than Thursday’s semi-final rout of Finland.
Wales only victory over Poland in 10 attempts came back in March 1973 – and they had lost the last six going into this one.
Yet the Dragons are on a seven match unbeaten run and have lost just three of 20 games here in Cardiff.
9
Wales had battled through to spot-kicks after denying Poland ANY clear chances in normal and extra time.
Ben Davies had a goal wiped out for offside goal in the first half of the added half-hour.
And Szczesny superbly kept out Kieffer Moore’s effort.
Then in the final moments of extra time the Dragons saw centre-back Chris Mepham sent off for his second booking.
That didn’t matter much – but James’ mishap did as the Dragons crashed out undeservedly.
By contrast the Poles have struggled on the road – losing three of their four away Euro qualifiers, including games at Moldova and Albania.
So it was a big night for them and their skipper and talisman Robert Lewandowski.
The Bayern Munich legend was taunted by shouts of ‘you’re just a sh*t Kieffer Moore’ by the noisy Red Wall.
Moore – back in the starting line-up after being benched on Thursday – must have had a little chuckle to himself.
He knows the Barcelona forward has had a stellar career in both club and international football – scoring 82 times for the Poles.
At 35 he knows there will not be many more major tournaments for him – a swansong in Germany this summer would be a perfect way to bow out.
His team settled quicker than the hosts but Przemyslaw Frankowski’s cross was right into the danger zone but just eluded the sliding Karol Swiderski.
9
9
But after a nervous start, Page’s men grew into the game and skipper Ben Davies directed his header from Harry Wilson’s corner just too high.
Moore headed another one across the face of goal and wide – but clearly the Poles and former Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny were not comfortable from set pieces.
Wilson danced into the box but there was nobody there to finish it off, while a Connor Roberts long throw flicked on by Joe Rodon but Moore could not quite turn it in at the back post.
Lewandowski was not getting much service so began to drop deep to try to get on the ball – and showed his quality on the ball.
But to be fair Wales had go to grips with him and the home side thought they had ended a tense opening 45 minutes in perfect style.
Moore nodded a Neco Williams centre back across goal and stand in skipper Ben Davies nodded home but celebrations were cut short by an offside flag.
It was a tight one but the VAR confirmed the Italian official had got it right.
Wales would have taken heart from it though and within minutes of the restart a towering header from Moore was clawed away spectacularly by Szczesny
The on loan Ipswich forward had been selected with Rob Page hoping his height would cause the Poles a problem – and he was doing just that.
9
Yet minutes later at the other end Lewandowski finally got a sight of goal but Davies did enough to put him off and his header was much too high.
Chances were starting to come though and Arsenal’s Jakub Kiwior couldn’t sort his feet out and directed a decent opening high over the bar.
And back at the other end, Moore again got on the end of a cross from Roberts but his header was straight at Szczesny.
Page decided to make a change with Dan James – who made such a big impact against the Finns – replacing a tiring Brennan Johnson.
And going into the last few minutes, he also introduced David Brooks – hoping that pace could make a difference against tiring legs.
Yet it almost backfired as with the clock ticking down Lewandowski tried his luck from 20 yards but his effort fizzed narrowly wide.
Wales were entering unchartered territory as they have never been involved in a game that has gone to extra time before.
A low cross by Davies was pushed out by Szczesny but agonisingly out of reach of the on-rushing James
And back at the other end, a curling effort from Jakub Piotrowski had Danny Ward beaten but drifted the wrong side of the post.
Amazingly the Poles had not managed an effort on target all night – yet that was a close one.
They looked the more likely to break the deadlock during extra time – but the home side were out on their feet.
Chris Mepham’s tired lunge on sub Romanczuk earned him a second yellow card but it was just seconds before the full-time whistle.
So to penalties – Davies, Moore,Wilson and Williams all scored their spot-kicks but so too did all of Poland’s takers.
Szczeseny saved from James and the dream was over.
9
