Summary

  • Wales seal first victory over Mexico in fifth meeting of the sides

  • Kieffer Moore rounds off fine team move to score the only goal before being withdrawn at half-time

  • Mexico, ranked ninth in the world, lose for the first time in 11 games

  • Wales caretaker boss Rob Page makes 11 changes after qualifying defeat in Belgium, with Chris Gunter making his 100th appearance

  • Gareth Bale comes off the bench for closing stages

  1. Postpublished at 1 min

    Wales 0-0 Mexico

    What did you make of that Wales team news then?

    Against a very experienced Mexico, I'm pretty worried.

    The wingback situation is, well, there is a fine line between experimental and silly.

  2. Postpublished at 1 min

    Wales 0-0 Mexico

    No doubt about the headline tonight, Chris Gunter, but the referee has blown his whistle and the game is under way, so I suppose it's right to talk about the football for a bit.

  3. From one centurion to anotherpublished at 19:58 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2021

    Wales v Mexico (20:00 GMT)

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  4. Gunter similar to Dykes - Wardpublished at 19:57 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2021

    Wales v Mexico (20:00 GMT)

    Helen Ward
    Wales' all-time record scorer on BBC Radio Wales

    Chris Gunter reminds me of Loren Dykes, she was the reliable, a seven or eight out of ten every game. They've turned up, performed, given everything in training and you know what you're going to get, that's why they've earned 100 caps.

  5. Allen ruled out of Czech gamepublished at 19:56 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2021

    Wales v Mexico (20:00 GMT)

    Well, these non-Chris Gunter posts aren't much fun are they? Here is one (with a handy link) about Joe Allen's injury, which rules him out of tonight's game and Tuesday's World Cup qualifier against Czech Republic. Sorry.

    Joe AllenImage source, Rex Features
  6. Stat is very interesting indeedpublished at 19:54 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2021

    Wales v Mexico (20:00 GMT)

    How about a massive list of match facts? Yes? Good.

    • Wales and Mexico have played each other four times, with two draws and two wins for Mexico.
    • The only competitive match between the sides came at the 1958 World Cup, when an Ivor Allchurch goal helped Wales to a 1-1 draw.
    • The most recent meeting, a May 2018 friendly in Pasadena, California, ended goalless.
    • Mexico are ninth in the Fifa world rankings, while Wales are 18th.
    • Wednesday's 3-1 World Cup qualifying loss in Belgium ended a run of 11 competitive matches without defeat for Wales.
    • Belgium's goals were the first Wales had conceded away from home in competitive games since October 2019.
    • Wales have won seven of their past eight matches at Cardiff City Stadium, drawing the other with Croatia, since a 2-1 defeat to Denmark in the Nations League in November 2018.
    • Wales have only won three of their past 16 friendly matches, drawing four and losing nine. They have just 13 goals with six of those coming in a 6-0 win over China in March 2018.
    • Mexico are unbeaten in 10 matches in all competitions, and their only defeat in their past 22 fixtures was a 4-0 friendly loss to Argentina in September 2019.
    • Former Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez is Mexico's all-time leading scorer with 52 goals but the 32-year-old is not in the squad for this game.
    Sam Vokes of Wales fights Hugo Ayala of Mexico for the ball during the Wales v Mexico game on May 28, 2018, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CAImage source, Getty Images
  7. A look back at Belgiumpublished at 19:53 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2021

    Wales v Mexico (20:00 GMT)

    Wales scored a fabulous goal, but they could not contain Kevin de Bruyne.

    You can catch up with our match report from Wednesday's loss in Belgium here, because not every post that I do pre-match can be about Chris Gunter. It is just that about 80% of them will be.

    Gareth Bale and Jan Vertonghen challenge for ballImage source, Getty Images
  8. 'Ups, downs and massive pride'published at 19:51 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2021

    Wales v Mexico (20:00 GMT)

    About time we heard from the man himself, no?

    Chris Gunter talks BBC Sport Wales through his journey to becoming the first player to win 100 caps for the Wales men's team.

    Media caption,

    Chris Gunter's journey to 100 caps

  9. A proud day for Gunter's family and friends - and Newportpublished at 19:49 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2021

    Wales v Mexico (20:00 GMT)

    Chris Gunter v New Zealand on his debutImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

    I can't say much, but I can say I've covered Chris Gunter's entire Wales career.

    Please forgive a self-indulgent post, but please believe it all pertains to Chris Gunter.

    My first job in journalism was working on the South Wales Argus newspaper which I joined in 2004. It took me a couple of years until I was able to cover a Wales international and one of my first games was Gunter's debut, a 2-2 draw with New Zealand.

    Now obviously he is from Newport, so I was his hometown paper and he stopped to speak to me after the game, something he has done numerous times in the 14 years since for all the media, but especially the Argus. Most players don't, Chris Gunter invariably does.

    Gunter's family also could not have been more helpful at a time when Newport's main football team were a non-league club and having local stars in the Wales squad - see also Cwmbran's Danny Gabbidon and Newport's James Collins - was a huge deal for the sports desk.

    His parents Gerald and Sarah and brother Marc have been Chris' biggest supporters, following games everywhere from the Cardiff youth team to the Euro 2016 semi-final, and I've been lucky to get to know them a little bit, so can say with certainty how much today will mean to them.

    The same goes for Gunter's friends, for he is the sort of person who is absolutely still in touch with, and friendly with, the people he grew up with.

    This is a hugely proud day for not only Chris Gunter, his family and his friends, but for the city of Newport.

  10. Wales team raises eyebrowspublished at 19:47 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2021

    Wales v Mexico (20:00 GMT)

    Dafydd Pritchard
    BBC Sport Wales at Cardiff City Stadium

    This friendly sits between two important World Cup qualifiers for Wales, so they were always going to make sweeping changes.

    Even with that in mind, though, Robert Page's selection might raise a few eyebrows.

    Jonny Williams and Tom Lawrence as wing-backs? It’s certainly different. New roles for them to learn against difficult opposition.

    It’s a callow midfield too, with a central pairing of Matt Smith and Dylan Levitt reunited having struggled at times during November’s goalless friendly with the United States.

    The result is secondary tonight. This is a fixture that needed fulfilling and Wales need to keep their first-choice players fresh for Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier here against the Czech Republic, which already feels like a significant game.

    This will also offer useful experience for Wales’ young fringe players, who may have a tricky evening’s work against a team ninth in the world rankings.

  11. 'Leader, machine, an absolute joy' - Chris Gunter's journey to 100 Wales capspublished at 19:42 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2021

    Wales v Mexico (20:00 GMT)

    To mark Chris Gunter's big night, BBC Wales football correspondent Rob Phillips has spoken to a huge cast of figures who have been part of his distinguished career.

    If you are part of the Red Wall, you are going to want to read this one.

    Chris Gunter and John ToshackImage source, Rex Features
  12. 'A dream to work with'published at 19:37 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2021

    Wales v Mexico (20:00 GMT)

    Chris Gunter, who wins his 100th Wales cap tonight, is "a manager's dream" according to caretaker manager Robert Page.

    Media caption,

    Chris Gunter: Wales defender is 'a manager's dream', says Rob Page

  13. Mexico team newspublished at 19:32 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2021

    Wales v Mexico (20:00 GMT)

    Contrast Wales’ inexperienced team of 293 caps (193 from Gunter and Hennessey) with Mexico’s line-up, which boasts a whopping 615 caps.

    Goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa has 110 and captain Andres Guardado 164.

    The team ranked ninth in the world have gone for a strong team which includes Napoli forward Hirving Lozano.

    Mexico: Ochoa; Gallardo, Montes, Alvarez, Rodriguez; Herrera, Salcedo; Pineda, Guardado, Lozano; Corona.

    Mexico starting XIImage source, BBC Sport
  14. Wales team news - all changepublished at 19:32 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2021

    Wales v Mexico (20:00 GMT)

    As caretaker manager Robert Page promised, Wales make wholesale changes from Wednesday’s World Cup qualifying defeat in Belgium. In fact, it’s a completely different team.

    Chris Gunter captains the team as he wins his 100th cap, while Swansea City centre-back Ben Cabango earns a first start.

    Midfielder Jonny Williams and forward Tom Lawrence move to unfamiliar roles at right and left wing-back respectively.

    Apart from stalwarts such as Gunter and goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey, this is a very young and inexperienced team.

    Wales: Hennessey; Gunter, Cabango, Norrington-Davies; J. Williams, Smith, Levitt, T. Lawrence; Matondo, T. Roberts; Moore.

    Wales starting XIImage source, BBC Sport
  15. Good evening and happy Chris Gunter daypublished at 19:29 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2021

    Wales v Mexico (20:00 GMT)

    Good evening.

    Let's be honest, there are big games and then there are international friendlies, but tonight is different, tonight is a really special night in Welsh football history.

    The list of Welsh football centurions is a short one, containing as it does only three names - Jessica Fishlock, Loren Dykes and Sophie Ingle.

    The list of Welsh men who have reached 100 appearances is not even a list. Until tonight, in fact, it has been a blank sheet of paper.

    Happy Chris Gunter day, Wales.

    The full-back starts in central defence for Wales.

    So first up, let's have a look at those teams, shall we?

    Gunter graphicImage source, BBC Sport