Bellamy double seals New Zealand draw for Wales
(REUTERS) 26 May 2007
Wales needed two Craig Bellamy equalisers to draw 2-2 with New Zealand in a friendly at Wrexham on Saturday, with all four goals coming in the first half.
New Zealand took the lead in the second minute with a Shane Smeltz shot but Liverpool forward Bellamy, frustrated in midweek when he stayed on the bench in the Champions League final defeat by AC Milan, turned in a Ryan Giggs cross after 18 minutes.
Smeltz had managed just two goals all season for Halifax in English soccer's Conference division but restored the lead for 127th-ranked New Zealand, who were missing several first-choice players, with a close-range header.
Bellamy then showed a nice touch to equalise again with a deflected shot eight minutes before halftime.
Wales, preparing for next weekend's UEFA EURO 2008 qualifier against the Czech Republic, made several changes in the second half but struggled to create any more chances and were lucky to escape defeat when Smeltz hit the post.
(REUTERS) 26 May 2007
Wales needed two Craig Bellamy equalisers to draw 2-2 with New Zealand in a friendly at Wrexham on Saturday, with all four goals coming in the first half.
New Zealand took the lead in the second minute with a Shane Smeltz shot but Liverpool forward Bellamy, frustrated in midweek when he stayed on the bench in the Champions League final defeat by AC Milan, turned in a Ryan Giggs cross after 18 minutes.
Smeltz had managed just two goals all season for Halifax in English soccer's Conference division but restored the lead for 127th-ranked New Zealand, who were missing several first-choice players, with a close-range header.
Bellamy then showed a nice touch to equalise again with a deflected shot eight minutes before halftime.
Wales, preparing for next weekend's UEFA EURO 2008 qualifier against the Czech Republic, made several changes in the second half but struggled to create any more chances and were lucky to escape defeat when Smeltz hit the post.
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