UK Edition
Wales 1 Austria 0: Liverpool's Ben Woodburn comes off bench to fire priceless debut winner
Wales have become specialists in unleashing teenage superkids.
To the names Ryan Giggs and Gareth Bale, you might soon be adding Ben Woodburn.
Liverpool’s youngster revived Wales’ World Cup hopes with a stunning debut winner and a virtuoso cameo that had Cardiff chanting and toasting his name.
The 17-year-old had not played for his country until the 69th minute of this win-or-bust qualifier with Austria, but he answered the call in breathtaking style.
Within five minutes of his introduction he found space on the edge of the penalty area, worked the ball onto his right foot and struck past Austrian keeper Heinz Lindner from 20 yards. The Cardiff City stadium momentarily paused before unleashing thunder.
At full-time, each member of the squad rushed to congratulate the youngster. The unused subs joined in lifting him from the turf.
“Super Ben Woodburn,” they sang as he made his exit, his life probably changed forever. Wales needed a hero, but even those fans could not have believed one so young would salvage their fading qualification hopes.
“It's one of those nights we will remember,” said Coleman.
“It was a great way to win the game. It was going to take something special to win the game and we got that from Ben. I told him to enjoy it and express himself but nothing I said made him score that goal. I know he is young but he is not a player we just discovered. We had him through our system. He would have come to Serbia last season but for injury. I had no worries about him at all. His all round play was very intelligent and composed and I am delighted for him.
“He is very composed. Sometimes when you are a good young player the test is whether you can handle the step up in training and then the debut. He has passed with flying colours. He has a lot of hard work still ahead of him, but we have seen he is capable at our level and can make a difference. He did that.”
Coleman must take some credit for the courage to send him on. Last year Jurgen Klopp felt the teenager’s Welsh call-up premature, but he has developed physically in pre-season and his talent can not be ignored.
It is even sweeter for Wales to consider how Woodburn – born in Chester - could have been playing for England, but stuck with the country he had represented through the youth ranks. He qualifies through his grandfather.
Thrillingly, he has a penchant for making an impression on his debut. He became Liverpool’s youngest ever goalscorer last season, a goal against Leeds United in the League Cup. Whatever he does for his club, there may never be a more timely goal for his country.
Wales had been given a fillip before kick-off, offered an opening to revive their campaign with the Republic of Ireland only managing a draw in Georgia. They knew two wins would close the gap on the leaders, especially as the top two meet next week.
But this was a fragile looking starting line-up, aside from the stardust offered by Bale and Ramsey. Joe Allen was missing through suspension forcing Coleman to retain David Edwards in a lightweight midfield. He also offered a chance to Derby County winger Tom Lawrence. It was Lawrence’s first competitive start for his country.
Austria saw the same glimmer of hope as they started the night on equal points as the Welsh.
At the start of this campaign the expectation was Wales had alerted so much of Europe to their talent, they would face defensive blockades every time they played in Cardiff.
A year on, Austria were not so conservative and Coleman’s side had to accept to long periods in the first half without possession. It made for some uncomfortable viewing as the Austrians pushed forward, but curiously it also offered periods of reassurance for the Welsh.
Counter-attacking football suits them, especially when Bale is given the freedom to explore wherever takes his fancy. Naturally, when he was near the ball the dynamic shifted. Getting enough of it to him was the problem.
There was encouragement within two minutes when Austria’s defensive midfielders were absent and the Real Madrid man was able to run unchallenged, the ball sadly falling on his able right foot rather than deadly left. He scuffed his effort.
Ramsey - far more enterprising in a Welsh rather than Arsenal shirt these days - dribbled through but shot over on nine minutes; Coleman needed his senior figures at their best, so this was a promising sign.
But Austria had more skill across the park. Bayern Munich midfielder David Alaba could not be shadowed by the makeshift Welsh midfield, and it was fortunate the player Marko Arnautovic sees in the mirror has little resemblance to the real thing. Arnautovic struts around like Zlatan tribute act – and in occasional flashes his ability matches the ego - but having been gifted an easy chance on 33 minutes he swatted pathetically over the bar. Relief for Cardiff.
Coleman made a crucial tactical switch at half-time, Andy King sent on to offer more midfield protection. Three centre-backs became two and Bale started to get more of the ball as Wales finally gathered some momentum, cutting inside from a more orthodox right wing role.
Lindner pushed wide a Bale strike from 25 yards as the home belief soared, and Ramsey also forced the Austrian keeper into action with a run and shot.
The desperation for a winner was tangible, so Coleman gambled with a double substitution on 69 minutes sending on Hal Robson-Kanu and the precocious Woodburn.
Liverpool’s youngster made his mark instantly. Woodburn said the adrenalin rush would stop him sleeping, but now he has the Welsh dreaming of Russia again.