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Lewis Koumas salvages friendly draw for Wales against World Cup-bound Ghana

The friendly marked the 150th anniversary of the Football Association of Wales

Lewis Koumas of Wales celebrates scoring a goal with team mates

Lewis Koumas of Wales celebrates scoring a goal with team mates(Image: Huw Evans)

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Lewis Koumas came off the bench to rescue a 1-1 draw for Wales at home to Ghana at the Cardiff City Stadium.

The youngster's stooped header in stoppage-time was enough to give Wales something to show for their efforts, in a contest that was always going to struggle to capture the imagination on the back of the failure to qualify for this summer's World Cup.

Wales had initially produced a fair amount of the sort of intensity one has come to expect from the Craig Bellamy era.

Daniel James saw a firm header tipped onto the post early on, before then rattling the woodwork moments later.

But Ghana, who face Croatia, England and Panama in their upcoming World Cup group, weathered the early storm, and took the lead midway inside the second half through substitute Caleb Yirenkyi.

The Black Stars looked on course for victory. But nearly eight years on from his dad's last goal for Wales, Koumas was on hand to steer home a Neco Williams cross deep into stoppage time.

Bellamy, who made four changes from the previous friendly with Northern Ireland, had insisted that summer international camps was an area his side needed to improve, having won just two of their last 11 June fixtures.

Wales now head to Bucharest to take on Romania, where they will look to build some momentum before a crucial UEFA Nations League campaign in the autumn.

The hosts started the brighter here. Daniel James forced a smart save from visiting Lawrence Ati-Zigi, who tipped a planted header onto the post inside 12 minutes, with the Leeds United winger denied by the woodwork again moments later; lashing an effort onto the crossbar.

Former Swansea City man Jordan Ayew blazed well off-target after turning Dylan Lawlor on the edge of the box at the other end, but Karl Darlow was largely a spectator for much of the first half.

Perhaps the Leeds United stopper had allowed his mind to wander, as he produced a near-costly brainfart just before half an hour that nearly gifted the visitors the lead. A poor pass to Joe Rodon seized upon by Ayew, whose effort was then smothered by the recovering Wales keeper.

Thomas Partey, who received a frosty reception from the home fans all night, will have been similarly relieved not to have been been sent off just before half time, scything down David Brooks on the edge of the Ghana box having previously been booked for a similar challenge on Dan James. His boss Carlos Queiroz, overseeing his first game in charge, clearly agreed, and hooked the former Arsenal man at half-time.

Darlow had to be alert to palm Marvin Senaya's deflected effort over the bar as Ghana continued to grow into the contest, although Gideon Mensa nearly turned a dinked David Brooks cross into his own net just after the break.

Bellamy made changes just before the hour, with Swansea City youngster Cameron Congreve coming on to make his debut.

But Ghana remained in the ascendency, and duly took the lead nearly 10 minutes later.

A sloppy pass from Lawlor allowed the visitors to play Ernest Nuamah in, and he skipped his way into the box before forcing a fine save from Darlow, only for Yirenkyi to tuck home the rebound.

Substitute Koumas should have at least hit the target in response, but could only divert his header hopelessly wide from a pinpoint Williams cross.

However, he made amends as the clocked ticked over 90 minutes, getting on the end of another Williams cross, which on this occasion he managed to turn into the net.

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