North Macedonia 1-1 Wales: David Brooks rescues late draw for Craig Bellamy's side after Joe Allen error

North Macedonia 1-1 Wales: David Brooks rescues late draw for Craig Bellamy's side after Joe Allen error

David Brooks salvaged Wales a precious 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw against North Macedonia with almost the last kick of the match in Skopje.

Wales were the better side throughout but they suffered a sucker punch in a dramatic finish that saw North Macedonia score in the first minute of stoppage-time.

Substitute Joe Allen’s horrible back pass was intended for Joe Rodon but was cut out by Bojan Miovski and he finished brilliantly, slotting the ball under Karl Darlow.

Wales seemed down and out but in the sixth extra minute Kieffer Moore got his head to a long ball and Brooks squeezed the ball across the line.

Wales' head coach Craig Bellamy celebrates at the end of a World Cup 2026 group J qualifying soccer match between North Macedonia and Wales at National Arena Todor Proeski in Skopje, North Macedonia, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
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Craig Bellamy’s side are up and running in their quest to reach the World Cup in summer 2026

With favourites Belgium yet to kick a ball in Group J, it could still prove a costly draw for Wales in the race for an automatic place at the 2026 finals in Canada, Mexico and United States.

North Macedonia had claimed a sixth consecutive win – the longest run of victories in their history – by brushing aside Liechtenstein on Saturday and now continue their strong start to World Cup qualifying with another point on Tuesday evening.

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