Wales Fail to Break Through as Turkey Hold On for 0-0 Draw in Cardiff

Craig Bellamy's first match as Wales manager resulted in a 0-0 draw against a 10-man Turkey in their Nations League opener on Friday. Despite a numerical advantage for over 30 minutes, Wales were unable to secure a victory in the rain-soaked match held in Cardiff.

Bellamy, 45, who previously played for Liverpool and Manchester City, took over as Wales manager following Rob Page's dismissal after Wales failed to qualify for Euro 2024. This was Bellamy's debut managerial role, having previously worked as an assistant to Vincent Kompany at both Burnley and Anderlecht.

The match took a decisive turn in the 62nd minute when Turkey's Baris Alper Yilmaz was shown a red card for stepping on Neco Williams' foot after an earlier booking. Yilmaz's first yellow came after a confrontation with Joe Rodon before halftime. Despite the sending-off, Turkey held firm, frustrating Wales' attempts to score.

Bellamy had previously said that former Wales manager Gary Speed, who passed away in 2011, played a significant role in his decision to step into management. However, his debut as head coach did not result in a win, despite Wales creating several scoring opportunities.

Nine players from Wales' last competitive match against Poland, a Euro 2024 play-off loss, were included in the starting lineup, with Aaron Ramsey and Sorba Thomas making notable returns. Ramsey was playing for Wales for the first time in nearly a year due to injury issues, while Thomas made his first appearance in 18 months.

Turkey, managed by Vincenzo Montella, were missing their captain, Hakan Calhanoglu, for the League B Group 4 fixture. This was Turkey's first match since their run to the Euro 2024 quarter-finals. The two sides had last met in a 1-1 draw during Euro 2024 qualifiers in Cardiff, and once again, Wales were unable to find the decisive goal.

Wales began the match with promise, as Brennan Johnson's clever backheel put Connor Roberts in a dangerous position, but Ramsey's header missed the target. The best chance of the first half fell to Rodon, who couldn't keep his half-volley down after a short corner.

Wales thought they had taken the lead in the 37th minute when Thomas lifted the ball over Turkey goalkeeper Mert Gunok after a through ball from Ramsey. However, the goal was ruled out for offside.

Turkey had limited chances but did threaten early in the second half, with Yilmaz heading over shortly after the restart. Following Yilmaz's red card, Wales pushed for a goal, with Harry Wilson firing narrowly wide.

Kieffer Moore suffered a head injury late in the game and was forced to wear a headband after receiving treatment. Turkey nearly snatched a late winner when Abdulkerim Bardakci forced Wales goalkeeper Danny Ward into a crucial save in stoppage time.

In the end, Wales couldn't find a breakthrough, leaving Bellamy still in search of his first victory as national team manager.