Summary

  • Robson-Kanu header, Ramsey from 18 yards

  • FT: Republic of Ireland 0-1 Serbia

  • Kolarov with left-foot strike, Maksimovic sent off

  • Group D - Serbia 18 points, Wales 14 points, Republic 13 points

  • Only group winner automatically qualifies - second could secure play-off place

  1. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 19:16 British Summer Time 5 September 2017

    #bbcfootball

    We asked you which international game you would like to wipe from your memory...

    Mark McKirdy: For any Scotsman there's only one. Mainly because we can't deny it was an incredible goal. Will always hate Uri Geller an all.

    EnglandImage source, Getty Images
  2. 'Woodburn came up trumps'published at 19:15 British Summer Time 5 September 2017

    Moldova v Wales (19:45 BST)

    Ian RushImage source, Getty Images

    "I thought it was an excellent goal - he is a confident player - but it wasn't like a striker's goal, it was more like a Steven Gerrard goal."

    Being compared to Steven Gerrard by Ian Rush. Does it get any better for a young Liverpool player, hearing that? Maybe if Robbie Fowler was giving you a back rub at the same time.

    To read more of Rush's thoughts on Ben Woodburn, click here.

  3. 'A dream come true'published at 19:13 British Summer Time 5 September 2017

    Here is what Ben Woodburn had to say after his dream debut goal for Wales...

    Media caption,

    Ben Woodburn: Debut Wales winner 'a dream come true'

  4. Wales latest superstarpublished at 19:12 British Summer Time 5 September 2017

    Moldova v Wales (19:45 BST)

    Ben Woodburn and Gareth BaleImage source, Getty Images

    When Wales travelled to Moldova in 1994, they were without Ryan Giggs, Mark Hughes and Ian Rush. This time around, they have their global superstar with them, as well as his teenage understudy.

    Gareth Bale remains the shining light for his country, but he had to share a bit of that with Liverpool's 17-year-old forward Ben Woodburn against Austria.

    It was his 20-yard strike, five minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute that gave the Welsh a precious victory in Cardiff.

    Now he just has to deal with all the heightened expectation every time he sticks on a red shirt, for country and club.

  5. 'Don't take me home'published at 19:09 British Summer Time 5 September 2017

    Moldova v Wales (19:45 BST)

    Dafydd Pritchard
    BBC Sport Wales in Chisinau

    Wales' fans seem to be enjoying themselves in Chisinau. The weather is good, the locals are friendly and the beer is cheap.

    The last time Wales were in Moldova in 1994, only around 75 supporters were here to watch their side slip to an embarrassing 3-2 defeat against a team playing only their fifth match as an independent nation.

    It's a different story this time around, with more than 1,000 making the trip to a country transformed from the mid-90s.

    And it seems some Wales fans would like to extend their stay, judging by a flag erected by some who have made the journey from Caerphilly.

    Wales fans in ChisinauImage source, BBC Sport
    Welsh flag in ChisinauImage source, BBC Sport
  6. Memory lanepublished at 19:06 British Summer Time 5 September 2017

    Moldova v Wales (19:45 BST)

    Juliette Ferrington
    BBC Radio 5 live in Chisinau

    Plenty has changed since Chris Coleman was last in Moldova.

    There's a whole page in tonight's match programme dedicated to a famous home win in 1994, Moldova's first competitive international match.

    ProgrammeImage source, Juliette Ferrington

    Coleman was reminiscing about that in his press conference yesterday talking about how there was no electricity in the team hotel and how the chefs couldn't cook so they didn't have any food or drink. Thankfully the structure of football over here is a lot better these days and so too are the conditions.

    StadiumImage source, Juliette Ferrington

    The stadium is new for a start.

    StadiumImage source, Juliette Ferrington

    Coleman said Moldova will be a 'tough nut to crack' despite their lowly position in the Group and the fact they haven't won a home international for almost four years, the last time was in October 2013 when they beat San Marino.

  7. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 19:02 British Summer Time 5 September 2017

    #bbcfootball

    As always, we want to hear from you this evening. We're going to take a lead from Wales' 1994 nightmare in Moldova for our talking point... so, tell us the international game you would most like to wipe from your memory. As tempting as it might be, don't just say the last England game.

    You can contact us using the hashtag #bbcfootball on Twitter.

  8. Tune inpublished at 18:59 British Summer Time 5 September 2017

    Moldova v Wales (19:45 BST)

    Ian Brown
    BBC football commentator in Chisinau

    Ian Brown and John HartsonImage source, Juliette Ferrington

    Not only are we covering the Wales game via live text commentary, you can also listen in as our BBC Radio 5 live team talk you through the action (just click on the play button above).

    Ian Brown is on commentary duty and he has former Wales striker John Hartson for company. They look pretty up for it to me.

  9. Players and fans relaxedpublished at 18:55 British Summer Time 5 September 2017

    Moldova v Wales (19:45 BST)

    Juliette Ferrington
    BBC Radio 5 live in Chisinau

    Bit of fan mingling outside the team hotel earlier when Neil Taylor popped out.

    Taylor's back from his two-match ban and Joe Allen is also available (and plays) after serving his suspension.

    Neil Taylor with fansImage source, Julliete Ferrington

    The players are pretty relaxed having arrived yesterday as are the fans as they topped up their alcohol intake ahead of the game.

  10. What's the deal?published at 18:51 British Summer Time 5 September 2017

    Here is how Group D is currently looking...

    Group D tableImage source, BBC Sport

    So, the only thing that can be decided tonight is Serbia sealing at least a play-off spot with victory over the Republic of Ireland.

    Remember, only the top side goes through to the finals automatically, with the second-placed team going in to the play-offs.

    However, there is a caveat. There are nine European groups and only play-off spots. Therefore the worst-performing second-placed side of that nine misses out. That is currently Bosnia and Herzegovina. Republic of Ireland are presently the eighth best performing side of the second-placers.

  11. Team newspublished at 18:48 British Summer Time 5 September 2017

    Moldova v Wales (19:45 BST)

    Dafydd Pritchard
    BBC Sport Wales in Chisinau

    Wales manager Chris Coleman makes three changes from Saturday’s 1-0 win over Austria. Joe Allen returns from a one-match suspension to partner Andy King in midfield, while Hal Robson-Kanu is recalled up front in place of Sam Vokes. Jazz Richards and David Edwards are the others to miss out as Coleman ditches his favoured 5-4-1 formation as he did at half-time against Austria, switching to a 4-2-3-1 system.

    Moldova boss Igor Dobrovolskiy, meanwhile, makes four changes from the 3-0 defeat in Serbia, with Bordian, Rozgunic, Graur, Pascenco replacing Cebotaru, Armas, Cojocari and Cociuc.

    Wales XI: Hennessey; Gunter, Chester, Williams, Davies; King, Allen; Bale, Ramsey, Lawrence; Robson-Kanu.

    Moldova XI: Cebanu; Bordian, Posmac, Epureanu, Rozgunic; Dedov, Ionita, Graur, Anton, Pascenco; Ginsari.

    Wales team to face MoldovaImage source, BBC Sport
  12. Team newspublished at 18:46 British Summer Time 5 September 2017

    Republic of Ireland v Serbia (19:45 BST)

    Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill drafts in Wes Hoolahan and David Meyler to his midfield for tonight's vital World Cup qualifier against Serbia.

    Hoolahan and Meyler replace Harry Arter and Glenn Whelan who started in 1-1 draw in Georgia, when the Irish were decidedly fortunate to earn a point.

    It looks like a 4-5-1 formation but O'Neill will be hoping that skipper Jonathan Walters can get forward to support Shane Long in attack.

    Serbia coach Slavoljub Muslin makes four changes to the team which started the victory over Moldova with keeper Vladimir Stojkovic, defenders Jagos Vukovic and Antonio Rukavina and midfielder Luka Milivojevic recalled.

    Manchester United's Nemanja Matic and Southampton's Dusan Tadic both start.

    Republic of Ireland: Randolph, Christie, Clark, Duffy, Ward, Walters, Meyler, Hoolahan, Brady, McClean, Long.

    Serbia: Stojkovic, Vukovic, Nikola Maksimovic, Ivanovic, Rukavina, Milivojevic, Matic, Kolarov, Kostic, Mitrovic, Tadic.

  13. Postpublished at 18:45 British Summer Time 5 September 2017

    Team news incoming...

  14. A trip round Chisinaupublished at 18:44 British Summer Time 5 September 2017

    Moldova v Wales (19:45 BST)

    Juliette Ferrington
    BBC Radio 5 live in Chisinau

    I like Chisinau. It's a cool city and a great place for walking with it's eye catching architecture and leafy parks.

    ChisinauImage source, Juliette Ferrington

    It has a huge central market bustling full of people and rammed with loads of stuff from cheese, eggs and vegetables to sweets, pastries and meat.

    MarketImage source, Juliette Ferrington
  15. Postpublished at 18:43 British Summer Time 5 September 2017

    Moldova v Wales (19:45 BST)

    We've got a decent crew out in Moldova to cover this game, including BBC Radio 5 live's Juliette Ferrington, who has been out and about in Chisinua throughout the day...

  16. Misery in Moldovapublished at 18:37 British Summer Time 5 September 2017

    Moldova v Wales (19:45 BST)

    Chris ColemanImage source, Getty Images

    Wales fans may wish to look away for this entry....

    Allow me to take you back to October of 1994. Whigfield was tearing up the charts with Saturday Night, Jean-Claude Van Damme was kicking people in numerous different decades in cinematic treasure Timecop and Mike Smith's Wales were in Chisinau, confident of making it two wins out of two in Euro '96 qualifying.

    This piece by our very own Dafydd Pritchard will give you the full lowdown on what occurred for Mike and his men. Needless to say, it did not go according to plan.

  17. When the going gets tough...published at 18:32 British Summer Time 5 September 2017

    Moldova v Wales (19:45 BST)

    Chris Coleman (centre)Image source, PA

    We are into the business end of qualifying now!

    As Billy Ocean would attest, this is when the tough get going.

    Having seen off Austria on Saturday, Wales need another win tonight to realistically keep themselves in the hunt for automatic qualification to Russia.

    And fate, mischievous as it is, has sent them back to the scene of one of their most embarrassing defeats...