Bellamy's Wales claim impressive win to secure Nations League promotion

Liam Cullen was the two-goal hero as Wales came from behind to beat Iceland 4-1 and secure promotion to the top tier of the UEFA Nations League.

Coming into the final fixture, Craig Bellamy’s side knew that a win and any dropped points for Turkey would mean promotion, and ensure they avoided a play-off game.

They had to do it the hard way, coming from behind, as Andri Gudjohnsen, son of Eidur, put Age Hareide’s visitors in front on eight minutes with a neat finish between Danny Ward’s legs, after the Leicester City goalkeeper had kept out Orri Oskarsson in superb fashion.

Wales were level just after the half-hour mark as Cullen stole in and glanced a deft header into the far corner from Brennan Johnson’s inswinging cross, and he was at the double on the stroke of half-time, sliding in to convert the rebound after Dan James had been initially denied by Hakon Valdirmarsson following good link-up play with Mark Harris.

Tottenham Hotspur’s in-form Johnson made it three with 65 minutes on the clock as Cullen turned provider, playing a sublime pass into the path of the winger, who finished with aplomb.

Harry Wilson, the Fulham midfielder, carried his hot streak of club form onto the international stage as he notched the hosts’ fourth with a sensational strike from outside the area, again made by Cullen, who showed excellent determination to make a long punt from Ward stick and hold off Iceland centre-back Sverrir Ingason.

Wales had done all they could to secure promotion, and luck was on their side, with Montenegro beating Turkey in the other game to confirm The Dragons as group winners, and condemn Turkey to the play-offs.

In previous years, Wales teams might well have crumbled under the pressure of going a goal down in such an important game, but not this time, not under Bellamy.

The former Manchester City and West Ham United forward is unbeaten in his tenure as Welsh manager, and he has instilled a newfound belief in this young Wales side, who lack the departed old heads of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey.

Instead, they have their new guard coming to the fore – Johnson, Cullen, Joe Rodon and the rest – and they march on into Europe’s top tier, to take on the continent’s elites once more.

It is hard not to award it to a player with a hand in all four of his side’s goals.

The Swansea City midfielder ran the show in Cardiff, scoring twice and assisting the others, in a complete performance from the engine room.

He showed his desire to break into the box, his willingness to get stuck in and do his defensive duties, and also his creative instincts, demonstrated by his threaded through ball for Johnson’s finish.

Wales: Ward 7, Williams 6, Cabango 7, Rodon 7, Davies 6, Cullen 9, Sheehan 6, Johnson 7, Wilson 7, D James 6, Harris 7. Subs: Thomas 6, Allen 6, Roberts 6, J James 6.

Iceland: Valdimarsson 6, Fridriksson 6, Ingason 6, Palsson 6, Sampsted 6, Gudmundsson 5, Johannesson 6, Traustason 5, Thorsteinsson 6, Gudjohnsen 6, Oskarsson 6. Subs: Thordarson 6, Willumsson 6, Porhallsson 6, Ellertsson 6.

8’: GOAL! WALES 0-1 ICELAND (GUDJOHNSEN) It’s there, and Wales are behind so early! Williams doesn’t deal with a deep cross, as Oskarsson powers a header at goal from Gudmundsson’s cross. Ward makes a great save, getting up, but Gudjohnsen is onto the rebound, and he slots between Ward’s legs to open the scoring.

32’: GOAL! WALES 1-1 ICELAND (CULLEN) Wales are level, and it’s Liam Cullen! The home side deserve that, they’ve been very good in the last ten minutes. Rodon switches play for Johnson, who has Williams in support. The full-back returns it to Johnson, who swings in a left-footed cross, and Cullen glances a header into the far corner! 1-1!

45+1’: GOAL! WALES 2-1 ICELAND (CULLEN) That’s the elusive goal that Wales were looking for, and it’s Cullen who doubles his money! Dan James does really well when he’s slid in by Harris, and he goes for goal but is denied by Valdimarsson, but Cullen is there to slide the rebound home!

65’: GOAL! WALES 3-1 ICELAND (JOHNSON) It’s three, and it’s the man in form, Brennan Johnson! A slick counter attack, harrying the Icelandic midfield, as Cullen claims possession and slides a perfect pass in for Johnson, who speeds down the right. He bears down on goal, and slots it into the far corner with aplomb.

79’: GOAL! WALES 4-1 ICELAND (WILSON) It’s four, and that is a sensational strike from Wilson! It’s route one stuff from the home side, as Ward goes long towards Cullen, who makes the ball stick and has Ingason struggling. Wilson picks up the pieces and hits it superbly, with the effort dipping into the bottom corner!