Wales 1-1 Czech Republic: Wayne Hennessey wins 100th cap in friendly draw
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Rubin Colwill (left) celebrates his first international goal with Rhys Norrington-Davies
Wayne Hennessey celebrated 100 caps for Wales as their friendly with the Czech Republic ended in a draw in Cardiff.
Tomas Soucek's fine swivelled strike put the Czechs ahead before Rubin Colwill finished a swift team move to instantly level for Wales.
After a slow start, a much-changed Wales side created a flurry of second-half chances with Brennan Johnson impressing in attack.
Hennessey was then given a standing ovation when he was substituted.
The goalkeeper, who captained Wales for the night, also had his best friend in the squad Gareth Bale join in as the team's usual skipper made a late cameo appearance.
After last Thursday's momentous World Cup play-off semi-final win over Austria, this friendly was always likely to feel a little anticlimactic. As Wales manager Robert Page said himself, the important game was done.
But Hennessey's milestone at least gave the fixture some significance that would otherwise have been lacking.
This was the evening when Wales were meant to be playing their play-off final against Scotland or Ukraine, but because of Russia's invasion that semi-final had been postponed.
Wales instead arranged this fixture, with the Football Association of Wales donating profits from the game to the Disasters Emergency Committee Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.
With the footballing stakes so low, Page made 10 changes to the team that beat Austria. While Bale was benched and Aaron Ramsey left out of the squad entirely, Hennessey was the only player to retain his place in a starting line-up in which none of the players had scored an international goal.
By contrast, the Czech Republic made only five changes from their 1-0 extra-time defeat against Sweden in Thursday's World Cup play-off semi-final.
The visitors' greater experience and match sharpness showed in the opening exchanges as they controlled possession and created a handful of chances, with Jan Kuchta's header forcing Hennessey into an excellent save.
The Czechs deservedly led after half an hour as captain and West Ham midfielder Soucek finished superbly with a first-time shot on the turn.
But Wales were level just two minutes later as Johnson broke into the penalty area and pulled the ball back to Colwill, who did not break stride before side-footing into the bottom corner.
The home side almost pinched another before half-time but Will Vaulks' low sliding effort from a Rabbi Matondo pass hit the base of the post.
Ondrej Lingr had a goal disallowed for offside early in the second half but, after a slow start, Wales had several chances to lead.
Wayne Hennessey is the third man to win 100 caps for Wales, following Gareth Bale and Chris Gunter
Vaulks shot wide from 20 yards before Johnson darted into the box and shot narrowly wide. Chris Mepham then had a header blocked by Soucek before substitute goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik saved another effort from Johnson.
The Nottingham Forest forward, who has lit up the Championship this season, was the most threatening attacking player on the pitch, constantly worrying the Czech defence with his pace, direct running and intelligence in the final third.
Hennessey was given a standing ovation when he was replaced by Adam Davies after an hour and, as is often the case in friendlies, the match lost what impetus it had when both sides made a raft of substitutions.
Bale made an appearance for the final 10 minutes, eager to share in the celebration of his old friend Hennessey's achievement. The Real Madrid forward tried his luck with a couple of audacious long-range strikes but both teams seemed content with the draw.
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