It was into the 100th minute when Kellyn Acosta unceremoniously upended Gareth Bale. Unsurprisingly, too. Bale was in the centre circle, some 55 yards from goal but it was Gareth Bale, he was lining up a shot and, more than virtually any other player of his generation, Bale specialises in magical moments. A caution was a small price to pay to prevent a second of the evening.
The first was reward enough for Wales: a first World Cup goal since the 1950s bringing a first point at this level since Dwight Eisenhower’s presidency and, if there can seem something prosaic about scoring penalties, it certainly did not feel that way when Bale stood 12 yards from Matt Turner. He had skied a spot kick in Euro 2020 but this was placed perfectly. “I am the penalty taker,” said Bale. “I have to take responsibility. It’s about stepping up for your country.”
