Win Or Lose - Yma O Hyd

Wales U19 0-1 Portugal U19 (UEFA European U19 Championships Qualifiers)

I left Mick Hartford and the Turkish agent getting into the back of a dirty old white van outside the stadium in Connah's Quay. Maybe Luton's links to Bedford gets them a second hand company vehicle? 

Word is they were also going to this afternoons game, I was half wondering if I should follow them in case they break down, but instead, left to my own devices I'm tracking back across the A55 for one last time this weekend, to the sunshine resort of Rhyl, which hosts the hosts against Portugal.

Probably the team I've been least impressed with so far is Portugal, managed by former international Filipe Ramos who also played for Sporting Lisbon, they got out of jail in their opener against Turkey and despite a 2-2 draw were probably second best on the day.

Wales were also second best to England in defeat in their opener but they played really well against the best team in the group, it'll be interesting to see how they perform today against opponents who look more at a familiar level.

I'm heading across to Belle Vue, home of CPD Y Rhyl 1879 FC who were formed in 2020 after the dissolving of Rhyl FC. The skies are brightening as I take a short cut through the North Welsh country roads before appearing in the town of Rhuddlan, past some rather spacious and quaint semi detached houses, I pull up on the Grange Road outside a crown green bowls and tennis club.

The Venue

It's been a bit of a nightmare if I'm honest, the arrangements of these games, Connah's Quay on Wednesday was cash only, Wales v England was ticket only, with nowhere to sit down, whilst Rhyl have made it a free for all, pay on the gate with a queue already forging onto the street an hour and half before kick off. 

I'm in early as have no accreditation and don't want to come all this way to be told it's sold out, so join the back of the queue outside a One Stop shop which soon goes down when the turnstiles are finally open.

Just £5 for adults, its a quid for kids and there's loads here enjoying the event with their tracksuit wearing mates.

I walk in to the venue with an eye on sitting somewhere quiet, thankfully there's plenty of seats at this one, a real homely and intimate football ground, close up and tight to the action, three sides have bit bob stands held together with rusty old steel, breeze block walls and scaffold.

Behind one goal is open ended but the view from the club house gives a roof top gantry which is a nice effect. As people are already up there enjoying a pre match beer on the veranda.

I'm sat behind the Portuguese analyst who's going over clips of England's match against Turkey today, before being joined by a fan from Bangor, who's just seen his team lose at Denbigh Town. He's friendly and asks me who to look out for in the Portuguese team, he tells me that he has over 3,000 Bangor City programmes and has been going to their games since the 1960s, before handing me two team cards from the recent Welsh Cup semi finals which he says I can have. A nice touch from a nice fella.

The Game

It's a decent start by Wales who are the designated away team today and who are wearing an unusual but likeable cream colour of yellow.

As against England they look to get their wingers involved, Issaka down the right is a real good outlet with pace and trickery, in midfield Charlie Crew, their captain who's at Doncaster Rovers on loan from Leeds is spraying balls about, Vimal Yogananthan, a leggy number ten is awkward but silky, I like the Welsh style under Chris Gunter, uncomplicated they get it back to front quickly, have a good tall goalkeeper, a good solid defence, a workman line midfield and pace out wide, just lacking a top centre forward to score them some goals.

The atmosphere is good, the ground over three quarters full but the game isn't living up to expectations, there's a lot of corners, some free kicks, no real danger for either goalkeeper but Olivio Tome, a player I recommended to my new friend from Bangor, he's playing well, the most lively threat for Portugal on the left, think Rafael Leao, he's leggy and tricky always willing to take on a defender or have a go, he lets fly from range one which whiskers wide before firing another over the crossbar with a powerful effort after holding off his man.

The Score

Tome aside it's another disappointing spectacle from the Portuguese who make two changes at the break, and they improve in the second half, Felicissimo who's been playing centre half has been released into midfield whilst Neto who scored with his first touch after coming on against Turkey, hasn't nearly as been effective today, he's replaced by Varela.

Portugal aren't pretty, but they are dogged and hard working, their defenders clear their lines, their goalkeeper is solid which provides confidence, in the centre of the park their captain Martim Ferreira is much better today, combative, he wins duals both on and off ground.

They've had a decent spell and Benjamin in the Welsh goal makes a good save to the applauds of his mum, dad and two brothers sitting in front of me, but as Portugal sniff opportunity, they score when on top, when after a corner is crossed from the left, Gabriel Silva, who's had a quiet game up front on his own, the smallest man on the field almost, finds space to head home.

That goal means if Wales don't score they're out of the competition and although they bring on Derby's Cruz Allen, a player I really like, they have possession and territory but never really penetrate the Portuguese defence, which is again marshalled well by their durable defender Goncalo Oliveira who heads and kicks anything that comes towards him.

The Stars

Portugal are much better than they were against Turkey, but not totally free flowing, they can defend and mix it and although have one or two stars, find it difficult to create chances in their 433 system.

Their goalie is good, really good, in front of him their centre half Oliveira is a player I like, in midfield I saw glimpses of Ferreira who battles honestly hard, not enough of Gil Martins their creative number ten.

Standing head and shoulders the best player on the pitch was Benfica's Olivio Tome, stay tuned for more of him to come, whilst centre forward Gabriel Silva who's running I enjoyed in midweek, was much quieter tonight, but he did get the winning goal with true predatory instinct.

For Wales, Plymouth Argyle's flying winger Frederick Issaka was a constant menace on the right. In midfield, Charlie Crew battled and Vimal Yogananthan did well, whilst defensively, Cardiff centre half Dylan Lawlor impressed me most, right back Zach Giggs, son of Ryan has to be commended up against a very good Portuguese winger in Tome.

The Verdict

The Welsh are out, but not down, on leaving Belle Vue they played a rendition over the tannoy of Yma o Hyd, the young supporters all joining in as they walked towards the exits, beautifully sung it's still one of those spine tingling moments whenever people in Wales get together and join in.

Chris Gunter's side are a likeable bunch and with Welsh football in a good place right now, I suspect many of these players to continue their pathway through the international system.

For Portugal, it doesn't feel like a vintage, the class of 25, but they always seem to punch above their weight when it comes to producing the best players in the world, there might one or two in this team with soon to be €100m price tags, which is why so many scouts are already sniffing, whilst chomping at the bit to see who might come good.

The Teams

Wales: Lewys Benjamin, Zach Giggs, Dylon Lawlor, Aled Thomas, Alfie Tuck (Troy Perrett 69), Luey Giles, Frederick Issaka (Cruz Allen 60), Charlie Crew, Vimal Yogananthan (George Morgan 69), Elliot Miles (Sam Parker 82), Gabriele Biancheri.

Portugal: Goncalo Ribeiro, Guilherme Peixoto, Eduardo Felicissimo, Goncalo Oliveira, Martin Cunha, Gil Martins (Tiago Freitas 75), Martim Ferreira (Joao Salvador 46), Diogo Lobao, Francisco Neto (Keyan Varela 46), Gabriel Silva (Nuno Patricio 75), Olivio Tome (Tiago Parente 90).

5:00pm Kick Off. Saturday 22nd March 2025, Belle Vue, Rhyl (att: 1,607).