Wales 0 Uruguay 1: Edinson Cavani’s tap-in wins his country China Cup during low-scoring final
Gareth Bale was marked out of the final as Luis Suarez hit the post twice in Nanning but the Dragons were well in the contest
EDINSON CAVANI'S tap-in gave Uruguay a slender win over Wales in the China Cup final as Gareth Bale was marked out of the game.
Ryan Giggs' side were on a high after thumping China 6-0 last week, but found the experienced Uruguayans a very different prospect.
Cavani gave the Uruguayans the lead after a through ball to Cristian Rodriguez completely caught James Chester off balance.
The defender's footing was wrong and he flapped at the ball before it fell to the feet of Rodriguez on the byline, who squared to an unmarked Cavani three yards out.
The Paris Saint-Germain striker then missed a carbon copy chance just minutes later, but from the opposite side, as he failed to tap in from the same distance.
Joe Allen clearly thought this was a competitive international, as was seen on his clumsy challenge on Nahitan Nandez, which saw the Stoke midfielder booked.
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Suarez had earlier hit the post twice, once from a kamikaze back-pass from Ashley Williams that saw the Barcelona forward skip around Wayne Hennessey before cracking the woodwork.
It was a chance Suarez would usually score in his sleep, and for a while the luck appeared to be on on the side of the men in red.
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Wales' main objective for the first hour appeared to be clipping high balls to Sam Vokes, who was taken off for Billy Bodin on the hour, with the Preston man making his debut 28 years after dad Paul.
The Dragons also seriously missed Aaron Ramsey's influence in midfield but also could have done with impressive Chelsea teenager Ethan Ampadu, who was ruled out with a broken ankle.
The match also saw Sir Alex Ferguson's last ever capture for Manchester United, Guillermo Varela pitched against Fergie's most cherished Old Trafford star in Giggs.
Technically, Varela's transfer was completed under David Moyes' watch, but Ferguson put the deal in place in the last few months of his management, along with that of Wilfried Zaha.
Varela has since returned to Penarol after failing to impress at United, but you would not rule out a return to Europe in the future for the 25-year-old, who looks a more complete player.