David Brooks secured a crucial 1-1 draw for Wales against North Macedonia with a dramatic last-gasp goal in Skopje, keeping their World Cup qualification hopes alive.
Despite dominating much of the match, Wales found themselves trailing in stoppage time after a costly defensive lapse. Substitute Joe Allen’s attempted back pass to Joe Rodon was intercepted by Bojan Miovski, who capitalized on the error with a composed finish, slotting the ball beneath Karl Darlow.
Just when it seemed Wales would leave empty-handed, Kieffer Moore’s header in the dying moments set up Brooks, who managed to squeeze the ball across the line in the sixth minute of added time.
With Belgium yet to play in Group J, the dropped points could prove significant in Wales’ pursuit of automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Wales had several opportunities to break the deadlock earlier in the match, with Brennan Johnson coming closest, only for Visar Musliu to clear his shot off the line.
Emotions ran high as North Macedonia played their first home match since a tragic nightclub fire in Kocani claimed 59 lives earlier this month.
A seven-day period of national mourning had just concluded, and the home team honored the victims by warming up in black T-shirts.
A minute’s silence was observed before kickoff, with both teams wearing black armbands, while Wales manager Craig Bellamy paid his respects by donning a black suit.
Bellamy made three changes from the side that defeated Kazakhstan 3-1 in Cardiff, bringing in Chris Mepham, Jordan James, and Nathan Broadhead while Connor Roberts, Brooks, and Liam Cullen made way.
The only player remaining from the Wales squad that lost 2-1 to North Macedonia in a 2013 World Cup qualifier was captain Ben Davies—one of Bellamy’s final international matches.
North Macedonia came into the game on a record-breaking six-match winning streak, having comfortably beaten Liechtenstein in their last outing. Valencia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski had kept clean sheets in all six of those games, but he was tested early when he had to push away a Jordan James shot within the opening 30 seconds.
Tihomir Kostadinov responded with a long-range effort that went wide, but the game soon became fragmented due to the strict officiating of French referee Jerome Brisard.
A lengthy delay followed when Dimitrievski went down outside his penalty area, though he eventually continued.
Wales created a golden opportunity when Daniel James set up Jordan James, but Sorba Thomas squandered the chance by misdirecting a promising ball at the far post.
Josh Sheehan forced Dimitrievski into a save from 25 yards before North Macedonia, mostly sitting deep, showed their attacking intent with a corner that found Ezgjan Alioski, who attempted a spectacular volley from distance.
After the break, Wales pushed forward, though clear-cut chances were limited. Darko Churlinov tested Darlow, while Johnson came close again before the late flurry of drama saw Brooks rescue a point for the visitors.
