Wales overcame a shaky performance to kick off their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign with a 3-1 victory over Kazakhstan.
Despite the win, it was a far-from-convincing display from Craig Bellamy's side, who will need to improve ahead of their next match against North Macedonia.
A promising start saw Daniel James give Wales an early lead in the 9th minute, his deflected shot finding the back of the net after Kazakhstan struggled to clear a corner.
However, any hopes of a comfortable evening were quickly dashed when the visitors equalized with their first competitive goal since 2023.
Kazakhstan were awarded a penalty when Islam Chesnokov's cross struck Connor Roberts' arm, and captain Askhat Tagybergen's spot-kick narrowly crossed the line despite a touch from goalkeeper Karl Darlow.
The equalizer rattled the home side, and the atmosphere at the Cardiff City Stadium grew tense.
However, Wales regained the lead just a minute into the second half when captain Ben Davies headed home from Sorba Thomas' corner.
Despite creating several opportunities, Wales struggled to put the game to bed.
Kazakh goalkeeper Alexandr Zarutskiy made several impressive saves, denying Jordan James and Neco Williams to keep his side within touching distance.
It wasn't until added time that Wales could breathe a sigh of relief, with substitute Rabbi Matondo scoring his first international goal from another Thomas assist to secure the win.
Next Challenge: North Macedonia
Wales now head to North Macedonia, who started their campaign with a dominant 3-0 win over Liechtenstein.
While Bellamy's side may be slight favorites, they will need a much stronger performance to take all three points in Skopje.
Bellamy's Unsteady Start to World Cup Campaign
After an impressive start to his tenure, going unbeaten in his first six matches and leading Wales to the Nations League's top tier, Bellamy's ultimate goal is to qualify for the 2026 World Cup and make a meaningful impact after a disappointing group-stage exit in 2022.
However, the struggle against Kazakhstan was a reminder of the challenges ahead.
Wales had been stung by a shock 4-2 loss to Armenia during Euro 2024 qualifying, and Bellamy was keen to avoid another embarrassing result.
James' early goal seemed to set the tone, but Kazakhstan's resilience disrupted Wales' momentum.
Roberts' handball and the resulting penalty put the home side under pressure, evoking memories of past slip-ups against lower-ranked teams.
Davies' crucial header after the break helped settle nerves, but Wales' inability to capitalize on further chances left the result uncertain until Matondo's late strike.
A Warning for Wales
With tougher challenges ahead, Bellamy and his team must learn from this unconvincing performance.
The trip to North Macedonia presents a real test, and Wales will need to find their rhythm if they hope to maintain momentum in their World Cup qualifying campaign.