Newport Stadium Tuesday, October 11th, 2005   European Championship Qualifier Attendance: 812         Wales U21 3-0 Azerbaijan U21
2005 /06

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Match Report - Wales 3 - 0 Azerbaijan 11 Oct 2005 Players Wales 1 Lee Worgan 2 Lee Beevers 3 peter Gilbert 4 Anthony Pulis 5 Craig Morgan 6 Lewin Nyatanga 7 Adam Birchall 8 Mark Jones 9 Ramon calliste 10 Arron Davies 11 Curtis McDonald 12 Simon Spender 13 Byron Anthony 14 Adam Davies 15 Rhys Wiggins 16 Shaun MacDonald 17 Mark Pritchard 18 Unknown 19 Unknown 20 Unknown 21 Kyle Letheren 22 Unknown Azerbaijan 1 Ruslan Majidov 2 Elnur Allahverdyev 3 Mikayil Namazov 4 Samir Abdurahmanov 5 Volodimi Levin 6 Rashad Sadigov 7 Ramal Huseynov 8 Jamshid Maharranov 9 Rusian Amirjanov 10 Wlnur Abbasov 11 Rashad Muradov 12 Davud Karimi 13 Ramazan Abbasov 14 Murad Aghakishiyev 15 Ilgar Gurbanov 16 Elvin Aliyev 17 Daniel Akhytamov 18 Rashad Karimov 19 Unknown 20 Unknown 21 Unknown 22 Unknown Substitutions On Off Minute Mark Pritchard Curtis McDonald 60 Mark Pritchard Anthony Pulis 85 On Off Minute Ramazan Abbasov Samir Abdurahmanov 45 Murad Aghakishiyev Wlnur Abbasov 63 Goals Wales Minute Mark Pritchard 65 Adam Birchall 70 Azerbaijan Minute Cards No cards received Referee: Heraklis Tsikinis (Greece) Assistant referee 1: Dimitrios Saraidaris (Greece Assistant referee 2: Georgios Tsoukas (Greece) 4th official: Spyros Vassiliou (Greece) Other information Attendance: 812 Report: UEFA Delegate: Anders Mattsson (Finland) Wales U21 produced their biggest competitive victory for nine years and completed the double over Azerbaijan in this final UEFA Championship Group Six qualifier at Newport. The star was Liverpool striker Ramon Calliste who could have had a hat-trick, set up a couple of goals and gave the Azeri a torrid night with his fine control and movement. But Wales got their reward with second-half goals from Mark Pritchard, Mark Birchall and defender Peter Gilbert, four minutes from the end of his 12th and final game at this level. Wales produced their biggest winning margin at this level since they beat San Marino 4-0 in 1996. Cardiff's 17-year-old Curtis McDonald won his first cap at this level, and Wales had Craig Morgan and Lee Beevers back from suspension as they fielded one of their strongest sides in the tournament. Wales used the 3-5-1 system with two deep holding players favoured by John Toshack for his senior side, with Liverpool's Calliste as a lone striker. It left him being marked by three defenders, creating plenty of space for Arron Davies in an attacking midfield role. And that formation almost produced a goal for Wales on nine minutes. Davies was instrumental in getting Birchall away on the right, and when the cross arrived in the box, Calliste threw himself forward but could only deflect the ball wide. Calliste then got himself booked after 13 minutes for a tackle on Jamshid Maharranov, but Wales almost scored a minute later when McDonald's challenge on Elnur Allahverdiyev saw the ball rebounding inches over the bar. Calliste should have scored after 36 minutes when his clever control left Maharramov floundering and the Cardiff-born striker raced away on his own, but keeper Ruslan Majidov saved bravely at his feet. A minute later Davies' through ball again offered Calliste a chance, but again Majidov hurled himself at the Welshman's feet to avert the danger. The Azeri started the second period with more attacking drive, with Daniel Akhtyamov just failing to reach a dangerous right-wing cross. But Wales broke again through Calliste, who turned well before finding McDonald, and, when the cross came in from the left, Birchall volleyed it first-time past the far post. Birchall had a shot and header saved before Wales sent on an extra striker in Swansea's Mark Pritchard on 59 minutes, and it worked with a goal from the 19-year-old five minutes later. Calliste and Gilbert swapped passes down the left and the Leicester full-back sent in a telling cross that an unmarked Pritchard headed past the helpless Majidov. Arron Davies then somehow managed to scoop a shot wide from six yards out, but he made amends after 68 minutes by setting up Wales' second. Davies' fierce, low shot from the left was palmed out by Majidov, right to the feet of Birchall, who coolly slammed the ball home. Azerbaijan hit back with a shot from Huseynov that was well saved by Lee Worgan before Murad Aghakishiyev hit a post from outside the box. But Birchall saw another effort turned around a post by Majidov and Pritchard sent a fierce drive wide of the far post. Shaun MacDonald came on for his debut with 11 minutes left in place of Anthony Pulis, and almost scored with his first touch, a dipping drive. But the third goal for Wales arrived after 86 minutes when Calliste's clever play on the byeline ended with a rolled pass that Gilbert side-footed home.