WALES will face Ukraine in Cardiff for a World Cup spot TODAY – and they'll be eager to clinch a spot at the major event for the first time since 1958.
However, the Ukrainians will be hoping to bring some much needed joy to their war torn nation for the winter.
- Start time: 5pm GMT
- TV/Live stream: Sky Sports Main Event and Premier League / S4C
- Wales XI: Hennessey; Roberts, Davies, Rodon, Williams; Ampadu, Ramsey, Allen, James; Moore, Bale
- Ukraine XI: Bushchan; Karavaev, Zabarnyi, Matvienko, Mykolenko; Stephanenko; Yaramolenko, Malinovyski, Zinchenko, Tsygankov; Yaremchuk
Follow ALL the action with our live blog below…
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Off the post!
75. It is off the post from Brennan Johnson and Wales!
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Another fired over
74. It is another long shot fired over by Ukraine and Shaparenko.
They were holding possession well, and then it goes down the drain.
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Brennan Johnson enters the pitch
Brennan Johnson comes on in replacement for Dan James, the Nottingham Forest front man just gained promotion to the Premier League, and is on the verge of his first World Cup now too.
Johnson got promoted with Nottingham Forest this season.Credit: Alamy
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Ukraine substitutes
Mykola Shaparenko comes on for Ruslan Malinovskyi, and Serhiy Sydorchuk comes on in replacement of Taras Stepanenko.
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No one in the box
69. Zinchenko receives a great ball on the right hand side, and plays the ball across the face of goal, but no one is there to tap it in.
The Manchester City man has a moan at his fellow forward players.
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Malinovskyi comes close!
66. The Atalanta playmaker pulls the trigger from distance, but it is just wide of the right hand post.
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Ukraine holding possession
65. Ukraine are very much having the most of the ball at the minute, but Wales look very dangerous on the break, much more than in the first half.
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Close from Dan James!
62. Connor Roberts does really well down the right hand side, he beats his man and picks out Gareth Bale.
Bale finds Dan James, who strikes a volley at the Ukraine defender.
The ball loops up high and Bushchan has to tip it over the bar for a corner.
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Ukraine looking to create
59. Ben Davies does brilliantly to clear the ball away from Yarmolenko who is through on goal.
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HUGE chance!
55. That is a MASSIVE save from Wayne Hennessey.
Mykolenko gets a cross in to Yaremchuk, and the striker has a tap in to convert.
It is normally a routine finish but big Wayne is there to make the stop.
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Wales in good shape
52. The Welsh defensive shape has been much better in the start of the second half.
Ramsey is looking to create chances here, and make up for his earlier miss.
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Huge chance for Wales
49. It is a huge chance for Aaron Ramsey!
The ball comes into him from the left hand side and it is ever so slightly behind him!
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Second half underway
46. The second half is underway here in Wales!
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Half Time reaction
HT. Well we have an exceptional game on our hands here.
It is constantly back and forth in terms of chances, and it must be said that Wayne Hennessey has kept Wales in it at times.
Gareth Bale's free kick was struck hard and true, but a deflection from Yarmolenko is what saw it make the net bulge.
So far it is captain fantastic who will be taking the headlines again, but the second half could write a whole different story.
Gareth Bale has been the hero for Wales once again.Credit: AP - Lloyd Canfield
Half time!
HT. It is half time here in Wales, and the home side are winning 1-0!
What a game we have on our hands here with so much on the line, join us for coverage of the second half in just 15 minutes time.
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Two added minutes
45. There are two added minutes here in Wales, and the home side are looking to add to their lead.
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Wales playing on the break
44. Ukraine are on top of possession at the moment, but Wales are deadly on the counter attack.
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VAR Check for penalty!
41. There is a VAR Check here for a penalty to Ukraine, Joe Allen didn't see Yarmolenko coming and tripped him, that was close.
The result of the check is no penalty.
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Rapid Dan James
39. Dan James skins Karavaev on the right hand side but eventually loses the ball.
Ukraine counter with Zinchenko and he forces a save from Hennessey again.
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Ukraine out for revenge
37. They need to get back into the game now, but they give away another free kick, this one is surely too far out for a Bale special.
He lofts it into the box, but it only results in a Ukraine goal kick.
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It's what he does!
34. Bale smashes a free kick towards the Ukraine goal, and Yarmolenko gets his head to attempt to clear.
The Ukrainian winger gets it all wrong and deflects it into his own net, 1-0 to Wales!
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Goal! Gareth Bale (Wales)
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Free kick Wales
33. Bale has a chance with a free kick here, we know how deadly he can be from here.
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Wales almost caught out!
30. There have been a few chances for Ukraine here, Yarmolenko put in a great cross that was well cleared by Wales, but Ukraine came straight back at them with Zinchenko who lashed a shot at Hennessey.
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Wales excellent defensively
28. Their defensive position today has been exceptional, there is minimal space between the defense and midfield in transition.
That is where Ukraine really took advantage of Scotland.
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