Wales opened their World Cup campaign with a 3-1 win over Kazakhstan.
Daniel James gave Wales an early advantage in front of an almost 32.473 crowd at Cardiff City Stadium, but this was deleted from the penalty of Askhat Tagybergen, given after Connor Roberts had treated.
Kazakhstan was threatening to throw a key in the works, but Skipper Ben Davies and Rabbi Matondo, with his first goal in Wales in the last minute, provided a winner for Craig Bellamy’s team.
Only then could Welsh fans breathe easily, but Bellamy will be pleased to banish three points ahead of a tougher task in Northern Macedonia on Tuesday.
For the first meeting of men between the two nations, Bellamy made four changes from their previous match in November-a 4-1 win over Iceland that took its invincible start in a record-taking six games.
Karl Darlow took the knot against Danny Ward in goal and Roberts, Sorba Thomas and David Brooks also returned to the start lineup after Wales had chaired their group of nations.
Kazakhstan, in the 110th FIFA rankings, arrived at 81 dense places below the Welsh, but with a proud record against British teams that beat Scotland in 2019 and northern Ireland twice in qualifying Euro 2024.
Wales slowly began with some wrong passions and poor touch before receiving a ninth minute lead.
A corner routine broke down, but Swift by pressing from Liam Cullen and Davies without James’ vacation ball, and his blow devoted from Alexandr Marochkin to incorrect Alexandr Zarutskiy in the goal of visitors.
Daniel James opened the score in Cardiff
It was the eighth international goal of James and Winger Leeds was the main source of the risk of attacking Wales as events unfolded.
James went down under a challenge Nuraly ALIP when the screaming for a penalty was ignored, but Judge Lithuanas Donatas Rumsas would soon show in place.
The 32nd minute of the minute of Islam Chesnokov hit Roberts from proximity, but the full arm of his back was far from his body and was always likely to have a result despite a long VAR control.
Tagybergen’s hit was shaken over the slow -moving line after hit Darlow, Kazakhstan’s first goal in seven competitive matches extending in November 2023.
Roberts was essential for the next point of the conversation after falling by Maxim Samorodov, with the full protection captured in the back of the calf.
Rumsas was sent to the pitch monitor for another VAR check and after inspection decided that a yellow card, not red, was sufficient punishment for Samorodov.
Two minutes after the re-starting Thomas won a corner he pierced in the distant post, and met Davies with a bullet head for his third goal in 93 appearances.
Cullen was shot after a good job by Brooks and replacement Jordan James was denied by Zarutskiy’s spread when Wales increased the pressure.
But Wales had to wait until the 90th minute for the nerves to calm down completely.
Jordan James sprayed a delicious pass to Thomas, and his deception allowed him to give a cross that Matondo sent with joy.
