The result sees Craig Bellamy’s side finish second in Group J and earns a home World Cup semi-final play-off place against either Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo or the Republic of Ireland, which is to be decided in Thursday’s draw from Zurich.
Without a host of key players including captain Ben Davies, and key midfield duo Jordan James and Ethan Ampadu, Wales needed to show heart and desire against a North Macedonia side who had previously only conceded three goals in their seven qualifiers.
Automatic qualification hopes had fallen with defeat in Belgium last month, but there would be a lot at stake with the task clear against the Eastern Europeans, win to finish second in their group and earn a home play-off tie against more favourable opposition. Draw or lose, and meet a heavyweight such as Italy on foreign soil.
Boy, did the Welsh Dragon roar to blow away their opposition on a night where Wales played attacking, stylish football of the highest level, to the extent that not many will fancy a trip to Cardiff in March for the knockout clash.
Captain for the night Wilson put them ahead with a penalty after Brooks was tripped, before Bournemouth wide-man Brooks himself applied a fine first-time finish to Johnson’s cross.
Wales let North Macedonia back into the tie less than two minutes later as a defensive lapse allowed Rangers striker Bojan Miovski to score, only for Johnson to score a fine individual effort, taking on three defenders before firing a 20-yard shot into the top corner – via a wicked deflection – to restore his team’s two goal-lead.
The Eastern Europeans fell further behind after the break as Wales sealed the result with a fourth. A flowing move seeing Johnson combined with Wilson, whose backheel teed up former Swan James to round off a dazzling team move.
Wilson added gloss to the result sending the Welsh fans into jubilation, curling in a beautiful free-kick from 25 yards before scoring his second penalty to become the first Welshman to score a hat-trick since Gareth Bale in 2021.
The hosts were not quite done yet as they made it seven goals in one game for the first time in 47 years with Broadhead tapping in from debutant Isaak Davies’ flick-on to complete the rout.
The win now leaves Wales just two wins from next summer’s World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, and having qualified for the 2022 edition of the tournament via the same play-off route. With fire burning in Welsh hearts, Bellamy and co. now will be hoping for a similar passage to reach the World Cup for only a third time in their history.
[Lead image Football Association of Wales]
