SINKER BELL
Iceland 2 Wales 2: Craig Bellamy’s men throw away two-goal lead as Dragons lose ground on Turkey in Nations League group
Visitors looked in command during first half, only for keeper Ward to suffer late agony
CRAIG BELLAMY suffered the first setback of his Wales reign as his team chucked away a two goal lead.
Brennan Johnson’s goal-scoring streak now stands at seven games after he tapped in the opener before Harry Wilson added a second.
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The Dragons were cruising at the break but then Iceland stormed back with sub Logi Tomasson bringing them back into it.
He also forced an own goal off keeper Danny Ward three minutes later as Wales were left clinging on to a point in the end.
Such an end to the game looked impossible as the visitors ran riot early on.
Wilson sprang the offside trap to go through on goal and his effort was partially stopped by home keeper Hakon Rafn Valdimarsson.
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He got back to stop the ball trickling over the line but could only divert it into the path of Johnson who couldn’t miss.
That was only a fourth goal in 31 internationals for the Spurs man – but seven in his last seven games for club and country.
Wilson’s deflected shot struck a post but he did not have to wait long to double his team’s lead as he latched onto a sweeping pass from Neco Williams.
The Fulham man was again in the clear and his first touch was brilliant – giving him the chance to despatch it past Valdimarsson.
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Williams then made his mark at the other end as he got back to clear a shot by former Burnley man Johann Gudmundsson off the line.
But the Dragons were a constant threat going forward and Sorba Thomas could have wrapped it up when he ran onto Wilson’s through ball but was denied by Valdimarsson.
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The only disappointment in an otherwise perfect first half for Bellamy’s men was a yellow card for Johnson – for a needless skirmish with Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson.
That means he misses Tuesday night’s home game against Montenegro – and he did not reappear after the restart.
It was a very different game after the re-start with Mikael Ellertsson firing over and Orri Oskarsson bringing a smart save out of Ward.
Andri Gudjohnsen – son of former Chelsea forward Eidur – fluffed a golden chance while Gudmundsson was denied by Ward.
But from the resulting corner, Tomasson was given far too much time to shoot through a crowd of players and into the corner from the edge of the box.
And three minutes later he beat Connor Roberts and his low cross from the left was diverted into his own net by Ward’s elbow.
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Now it was Iceland who looked the more likely to win it and the Dragons were relieved to see Thorsteinsson’s shot hit the base of the post.
The draw leaves Wales second in their group, two points behind Turkey.
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