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45 min:<\/strong> Kazakhstan<\/a> break forward again and after good work from Satpaev, Alibek Kassym shoots well wide from a good position. It\u2019s half-time.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 44 min:<\/strong> A steepling cross from Ben Davies hangs in the air, tempting Anerbekov off his line to try to pluck it from the sky. His catch isn\u2019t clean but he grabs the ball at the second time of asking under pressure from Keiffer Moore.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 43 min:<\/strong> Free-kick for Wales, directly in front of the Kazakhstan<\/a> goal, about 30 yards out and a little right of centre. Harry Wilson fancies his chances but sends his shot straight into the defensive wall.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 41 min:<\/strong> Mepham tries a shot from distance, sending a low effort skidding along the floor and into the arms of Temirian Anerbekov.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 38 min: <\/strong>Wales lose the ball while trying to play it out from the back and Galymzhan Kenzhebek comes this close to curling a splendid equaliser inside the far post after cutting in from the left. That was a fine effort which curled millimetres wide of the upright.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 36 min:<\/strong> Wales are good value for their one-goal lead but Kazakhstan<\/a> are looking dangerous on the counter-attack and are for the watching.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 34 min:<\/strong> Sodorov switches the ball wide to Satpaev on the right touchline as Kazakhstan<\/a> advance on the break again. The youngster runs down a blind alley and the ball ends up at the feet of Karl Darlow.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 33 min:<\/strong> Neco Williams and Brennan Johnson combine down the left but the full-back loses his balance on the artificial pitch and falls over just inside the Kazakhstan<\/a> penalty area. He thinks better of appealing for a penalty.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 30 min:<\/strong> Samorodov gets the ball in space outside the Wales penalty area after some sloppy play from Brennan Johnson. The Kazakhstan<\/a> striker\u2019s shot is blocked by the outstretched leg of Chris Mepham. Samorodov appeals for a handball but the referee isn\u2019t interested.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.33 EDT<\/p>\n 28 min:<\/strong> Kazakhstan<\/a> attack on the break and Ramazan Orazov picks out Maksim Samorodov with a fine pass. He wins a corner for his side as Wales scramble back to defend. The ball is whipped into the box and the ball goes out for a Wales goal kick off the head of Nuraly Alip.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 26 min:<\/strong> That\u2019s an opener that will ease the pressure on Wales<\/a>. They won a free-kick wide on the right and the ball was curled towards Liam Cullen, who flicked a header goalwards. Anerbekov kept his effort out but could only parry the ball to Moore, whose task could scarcely have been more straightforward. The Wrexham striker scores his 15th goal for Wales on his 50th appearance.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>GOAL! Kazakhstan 0-1 Wales (Moore 25)<\/p>\n Wales lead!<\/strong> Kieffer Moore stabs home from about seven yards out after Anerbekov parries a Liam Cullen flick at a free-kick to his feet.<\/p>\n Joy for Wales after Kieffer Moore snaffled the opening goal in Astana. Photograph: Pavel Mikheyev\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.35 EDT<\/p>\n 23 min:<\/strong> Wales<\/a> win another corner after good work from Neco Williams. Harry WIlson swings the ball towards the far post, where Dylan Lawlor has a free-header. He is unable to stewer the ball goalwards and sends it across the face of goal. It\u2019s scrambled clear.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 21 min:<\/strong> That was a nervy moment for Wales<\/a>. Kenzhebek was given the freedom of the pitch to bear down on their penalty area and might have scored with a better placed shot. Leeds United is where Karl Darlow plays second fiddle these days, in case you were wondering. I had to check he wasn\u2019t still at Newcastle.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 19 min:<\/strong> Kazakhstan<\/a> are given space to advance on the Wales penalty area but Kenzhebek\u2019s shot from just outside the box is straight at Karl Darlow.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 18 min:<\/strong> Ramazan Orazov is penalised for a late challenge from behind on Brennan Johnson but avoids a booking.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 14 min:<\/strong> Sorba Thomas gads down the left again and picks out Johnson with another cross. The volley towards goal looks on but Johnson controls the ball before blazing over. Wales<\/a> are awarded a corner when Anerbekov is incorrectly adjudged to have tipped the ball over the bar. He didn\u2019t get near it! From that corner, Wales win another but nothing comes of either.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 12 min: <\/strong>Making his international debut in goal for Kazakhstan<\/a> tonight, Temirian Anerbekov may look familiar to Celtic fans. The Kairat Almaty goalkeeper saved two penalties in the shoot-out that resulted in the Scottish champions\u2019 embarrassing elimination from the Champions League preliminaries.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.14 EDT<\/p>\n 11 min:<\/strong> Kazakhstan<\/a> enjoy a rare spell of possession but lose the ball when a misplaced Damir Kassabulet pass finds its way to the feet of Dylan Lawlor.<\/p>\n Kazakhstan’s Ramazan is tracked by Neco Williams. Photograph: Pavel Mikheyev\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.20 EDT<\/p>\n 10 min:<\/strong> Thomas\u2019s corner is cleared with a meaty header, Wales<\/a> regain possession just inside their own half and advance up field again.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 7 min:<\/strong> Wales are dominating possession in these early stages, with Kazakhstan<\/a> sitting deep in a lines of five and four. Ben Davies tries a shot from distance after some patient build-up and wins a corner for his side when his shot pole-axes Alip.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 6 min:<\/strong> Sorba Thomas has started well for Wales and is giving his marker, Bagdat Kairov an early headache. The Welshman drills a low cross into the Kazakhstan<\/a> penalty area from the left but it\u2019s cleared before it arrives at the feet of Brennan Johnson.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 4 min:<\/strong> Kazakhstan<\/a> win a the first corner of the game, the ball going out off Sorba Thomas. Dastan Satpaev takes it short but the hosts mess up their set-piece and gift possession back to Wales.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 3 min:<\/strong> Wales<\/a> have lined up with a back four, defying the expectations of the Fifa graphics department, who had them playing three at the back. Brennan Johnson sends a cross from the right in the general direction of Kieffer Moore but is unable to pick out the first Wrexham player to line-up for Wales in 17 years.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 1 min:<\/strong> Good work by Sorba Thomas down the left as he chases a ball out wide from Ben Davies but he runs into a firm wall of resistance in Kazakhstan\u2019s Yan Vorogovskiy.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Kazakhstan v Wales is go …<\/p>\n 1 min:<\/strong> Kazakhstan<\/a> get the ball rolling, their players wearing yellow shirts, shorts and socks with blue trim. Their visitors are in an all red kit.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Not long now:<\/strong> Both sets of players line up in the tunnel and are led out on to the pitch by Spanish referee Alejandro Hernandez and his team of match officials. It\u2019s coming up to 7pm local time in Astana and kick-off is just a few minutes away.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.56 EDT<\/p>\n Craig Bellamy:<\/strong> \u201cNo matter what, it\u2019s going to be a difficult game,\u201d said the Wales manager ahead of today\u2019s qualifier. \u201cPlaying [Kazakhstan] at home in Cardiff was a good challenge as well, how they set up, how they look to counter-attack. They spent a long time without the ball and that usually breaks teams earlier than it did. We call it heart. I admired it. For us, do we have the quality on the day? That\u2019s the most important. Have we prepared well? Are we able to adapt? We\u2019ll have to take the game to them.\u201d<\/p>\n Wales head coach Craig Bellamy takes in his surroundings at the Astana Arena ahead of kick-off. Photograph: Pavel Mikheyev\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n The Red Wall:<\/strong> Wales<\/a> are expected to bring around a thousand supporters to Astana today but the odyssey undertaken by one bucket hat-wearing fan to get to his seat in the away end has really captured the public imagination.<\/p>\n John McAllister left his home in Barry over five weeks ago and on a largely overland journey of 5,000 kilometres involving 17 train journeys and 11 bus trips, has taken in 11 different football matches, an ice hockey game, some random Irish bloke\u2019s stag do and a heavy metal festival en route while compiling a fascinating YouTube travel vlog<\/a>.<\/p>\n Wales fan John McAllister took in Fenerbache\u2019s Champions League playoff home leg against Feyenoord on his way to Astana. Photograph: Courtesy of John McAllister<\/p>\n The 26-year-old\u2019s exploits have been brought to the attention of Craig Bellamy, who along with his players hopes to meet and greet the intrepid explorer if a get-together hasn\u2019t already been arranged. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to see him, because it means so much to us,\u201d the Wales manager said.<\/p>\n John arrives in Kazakhstan, having left Barry station in South Wales on 29 July. Photograph: Courtesy of John McAllisterShare<\/a>Today\u2019s match officials<\/p>\n Referee:<\/strong> Alejandro Hernandez<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Referee\u2019s assistants:<\/strong> Jose Naranjo and Diego Sanchez<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Fourth official:<\/strong> Joe Luis Nunuera<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Video assistant referee:<\/strong> Cesar Soto Grado<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Alejandro Hernandez leads the Spanish team of match officials in charge of laying down the law at the Astana Arena. Photograph: \u00c1lex Caparr\u00f3s\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a>Wales defender Chris Mepham and assistant coach Andrew Crofts get their pre-match chat on in Astana. Photograph: Pavel Mikheyev\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Wales team news:<\/strong> A tip of the garish bucket hat to Kieffer Moore and Chris Mepham, who both notch up their half-century of Wales caps today. Just beginning his international journey, Cardiff City\u2019s 19-year-old defender Dylan Lawlor makes his first appearance for his country. Well done, Dylan. Moore, Lawlor, Neco William, Liam Cullen and Josh Sheehan come into a side that features five changes from the XI who lined up for Wales narrow defeat at the hands of Belgium<\/a> last time out.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.53 EDT<\/p>\n World Cup tickets:<\/strong> Should Wales or Kazakhstan<\/a> qualify for next summer\u2019s tournament being staged in the USA, Canada and Mexico, their fans can expect to pay top, top, top, top dollar for match tickets now that Fifa has decided to channel its inner Oasis and introduce a new dynamic pricing model. Leander Schaerlaeckens has the latest \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.19 EDT<\/p>\n Cymru\u2019s players stroll on the artificial pitch upon arrival at the Astana Arena. Photograph: Pavel Mikheyev\/ReutersShare<\/a>Kazakhstan v Wales line-ups<\/p>\n Kazakhstan:<\/strong> Anarbekov, Kasym, Maliy, Alip, Kairov, Orazov, Kasabulat, Vorogovskiy, Satpaev, Kenzhebek, Samorodov.<\/p>\n Subs:<\/strong> Shayzada, Seisen, Zhaksybaev, Muzhikov, Chesnokov, Karaman, Zhagorov, Sviridov, Zhumat, Sultanbek Astanov, Omirtayev, Khalmatov.<\/p>\n Wales:<\/strong> Darlow, Mepham, Ben Davies, Lawlor, Thomas, Cullen, Sheehan, Wilson, Williams, Johnson, Moore.<\/p>\n Subs:<\/strong> Adam Davies, Cabango, Brooks, Koumas, Kpakio, Crew, Jordan James, Harris, Daniel James, King, Norrington-Davies, Colwill.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Early Kazakhstan team news<\/p>\n Since losing to Wales in Cardiff Kazakhstan<\/a> have lost Askhat Tagybergen, their goalscorer and captain on the night, to international retirement. The veteran stood down following his side\u2019s defeat at the hands of North Macedonia citing his wish to make way for new blood in the national side. Arguably Kazakhstan\u2019s brightest prospect, the 17-year-old Dastan Satpaev made his senior international debut in that game against Wales and the Astana striker will join Chelsea once he turns 18.<\/p>\n His Kairat Almaty teammate, Alexander Zarutskyi, misses out through injury today after being forced off during the first leg of his team\u2019s Champions League playoff first leg against Celtic and is likely to be replaced by Astana\u2019s Mukhammedzhan Seysen.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Early Wales team news<\/p>\n Wales go into this game suffering from a litany of injuries, with the loss of Leeds duo Ethan Ampadu and Joe Rodon arguably the ones that will hurt the most. Wrexham goalkeeper Danny Ward and his teammate Nathan Broadhead have also been ruled out, while Jay Dasilva and Connor Roberts are also numbered among the Cymru lame and halt.<\/p>\n Currently playing his club football in Mexico with Pumas UNAM, Aaron Ramsey has been omitted from the squad due to lack of match fitness following his return to action from a hamstring injury. Bellamy insists the 34-year-old midfielder features in his future plans but the pair agreed Ramsey would miss this game and Wales\u2019 friendly against Canada on Tuesday because he has only played once since March.<\/p>\n In the absence of so many experienced players, Cardiff City duo Dylan Lawlor and Ronan Kpakio have earned their first international call-ups, although there is no place in the squad for their fellow Bluebird, Ruben Colwill despite the 23-year-old midfielder\u2019s impressive start to the season. Bellamy explained he was \u201cvery close\u201d to being selected but added that he wants to \u201csee more\u201d from him. Colwill\u2019s younger brother and Cardiff teammate, Joel, did make the cut and is included in a Wales squad for the first time.<\/p>\n Fulham winger Harry Wilson has scored a goal in six of his last seven appearances for Wales in World Cup qualifying and the Nations League. Photograph: Justin Setterfield\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a>Group J: Kazakhstan v Wales<\/p>\n A lengthy hop from Cardiff, the Astana Arena is the venue for today\u2019s match between Kazakhstan<\/a> and a Wales side who have never travelled further for a World Cup qualifier. While many Uefa groups are only getting started in the current international window, Group J is already well under way and Wales currently sit second behind leaders North Macedonia, who have one point more than Craig Bellamy\u2019s side after four games each. Belgium currently occupy third spot but will overtake both the teams ahead of them if they win their two games in hand.<\/p>\n The upshot is that today\u2019s match is veering perilously close to must-win territory for the Welsh and is unquestionably of the must-not-lose variety. Despite travelling around 3,500 kilometres to fulfill this fixture on an artificial pitch that isn\u2019t entirely to their manager\u2019s liking, the visitors will be hopeful of repeating their victory over the Kazakhs<\/a> in Cardiff back in March. A more emphatic and less nervy win would be welcome. Kick off in the Kazakh capital is at 3pm (BST) but stay tuned in the meantime for team news and build-up.<\/p>\n\n