Macedonia vs Wales 1-1 World Cup qualifying
Skopje, Macedonia (March 25, 2025) — Macedonia as Bojan Miovski capitalised on a defensive error from Joe Allen to slot home past Karl Darlow in the 91st minute.
David Brooks scored with the final kick of the game in stoppage time drama to spare Craig Bellamy’s unbeaten record as Wales rescued a point against North Macedonia.
Wales snatched a dramatic World Cup qualifying draw in North Macedonia after a chaotic finale in which the visitors had fallen behind in added time before David Brooks’ scrambled equaliser with virtually the last kick of the game.
The match looked to be drifting towards a goalless draw at 90 minutes, but a sloppy backpass from Wales substitute Joe Allen allowed Bojan Miovski to scamper clear and calmly finish to spark wild celebrations in Skopje.
Then as the visitors desperately hurled bodies forward in an attempt to salvage something from a game they should already have won, Kieffer Moore headed the ball down for fellow substitute Brooks to finish from close range.
Welsh players and staff streamed on to the pitch in celebration, a bizarre sight in many respects as only moments earlier they had seemed frustrated by the prospect of leaving Skopje with only one point.
But in these circumstances, this was a spectacular way to maintain their unbeaten start to World Cup qualifying – and Craig Bellamy’s unbeaten start as head coach.
North Macedonia remain top of Group J, ahead of Wales on goal difference, with top seeds Belgium yet to play because of their Nations League commitments.
Wales returned to action in June with a home fixture against Liechtenstein followed by a potentially pivotal trip to Belgium.
On an emotional night in Skopje, there was a highly-charged atmosphere at National Arena Todor Proeski as North Macedonia played their first home match since a nightclub fire in the country had killed 59 people and prompted a period of national mourning.
Wales controlled the game for long periods but struggled to turn their dominance of possession into clear scoring opportunities.
On the rare occasions they did manage to carve open the opposition defence, Sorba Thomas misfit a shot from a promising position in the first half and Brennan Johnson had a second-half effort cleared off the line.
Then after 90 minutes of shadow boxing between the two sides, the match burst into life with North Macedonia delivering what seemed like a knockout blow, only for Wales to lift themselves off the canvas just before the bell.
But in the sixth minute of added time – two minutes more than the allotted four – Brooks poked into the opposition net to equalise and ensure his side didn’t lose ground early in the race for World Cup qualification.
The game looked destined to end goalless after an uneventful 90 minutes – but reached its crescendo in mind-blowing fashion to leave both sets of fans stunned come the final whistle.
