Twitter explodes as Gareth Bale produces crowning moment to spearhead Wales to FIFA World Cup 2022 qualification 

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Cometh the hour, cometh the man... Gareth Bale

Gareth Bale's deflected free-kick gave Wales a vital 1-0 win to confirm their place at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at the expense of Ukraine, on June 5.

The two European sides faced off in the UEFA World Cup Playoff final at the Cardiff City Stadium and it's Wales who booked their ticket to Qatar.

A free-kick struck by Bale curled into the path of Andriy Yarmolenko, who headed despairingly past Heorhiy Bushchan in the 34th minute.

Ukraine were the better side for large periods of the game, with Wales only having had just one shot on target. They had their fair share of chances in the first half and had the ball in the back of the net when Manchester City's Oleksandr Zinchenko took an early free-kick.

But he was deemed to have taken the free-kick too early. Later, Bale would set Wales on their way towards the crucial win.

In the second-half, Ukraine were clearly the better side and should have found an equalizer only for Ben Davies to put in one of his most remarkable performances.

Roman Yaremchuk came agonizingly close to equalizing in the 56th minute, sending his strike wide from just six yards out.

In the 75th minute, Brennan Johnson came close to adding to Wales' lead only to see his strike rebound off the post. Wayne Hennessey pulled off a fine stop from Artem Dobvyk in the 82nd minute in a pulsating end to the affair.

But Bale has once again proven to be vital for his national team and his deflected strike has sent fans into a frenzy.

Here are some reactions from fans on Twitter:

Danny

@DannyAaronsFUT

Gareth Bale is inevitable.

1954

17

Gareth Bale is inevitable.

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Factos FC🔴⚪

@UnaiLegacy

@goal @GarethBale11 @Cymru Gareth Bale had a better career than Ronaldo

5

@goal @GarethBale11 @Cymru Gareth Bale had a better career than Ronaldo

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dani🇪🇸

@Danibarca23

Bale is by far the greatest British player of all time. Not just because of his Madrid status. The joy he bought to a small nation like Wales is really impressive

40

3

Bale is by far the greatest British player of all time. Not just because of his Madrid status. The joy he bought to a small nation like Wales is really impressive

𝐀𝐅𝐂 𝐀𝐉𝐀𝐗 💎

@TheEuropeanLad

1-0 Wales.

GARETH BALE’S FREEKICK TAKES A DEFLECTION AND GOES IN!!!!!

3799

170

1-0 Wales.

GARETH BALE’S FREEKICK TAKES A DEFLECTION AND GOES IN!!!!! https://t.co/jYLBDgf9Jn

NotMyManager

@DouzisApology

Gareth Bale’s career doesn’t even make sense to me at times.

Gareth Bale’s career doesn’t even make sense to me at times.

bentanballr

@ConteBallN17

Bale needs to come back ngl. Still class and has that clutch gene. His ‘return’ before was scuppered by a lack of playing time and no fans in stadiums. Let’s run it back with Conte at the helm and see him lift a trophy for us🤩

Bale needs to come back ngl. Still class and has that clutch gene. His ‘return’ before was scuppered by a lack of playing time and no fans in stadiums. Let’s run it back with Conte at the helm and see him lift a trophy for us🤩

Michael

@MGR1711

Bale deserves to be at the World Cup #WALUKR

1

Bale deserves to be at the World Cup #WALUKR

MrcCfc

@cristi7moro

I actually hope wales will beat ukraine to see bale in the worldcup #walukr

1

I actually hope wales will beat ukraine to see bale in the worldcup #walukr

Prabhat Singh ❁

@imprabhatoffici

Gareth Bale Again
#Garethbale
#Bale

Gareth Bale Again⚡
#Garethbale
#Bale https://t.co/JxXQ6ZdMrM

Matte Black

@CuthB_Kol

If Bale had played the UCL final, Madrid would have won with 2+ goals

If Bale had played the UCL final, Madrid would have won with 2+ goals

Joachim Steinberg

@SFJoachim

Feels pretty in character for Wales (& Gareth Bale) that the improbable trip to the World Cup that should make them everyone’s sentimental favorite runs through Ukraine

Feels pretty in character for Wales (& Gareth Bale) that the improbable trip to the World Cup that should make them everyone’s sentimental favorite runs through Ukraine

zagreb citizen

@sccp_alxndr180

Gareth bale is that one player that when he is committed the man can do the almost impossible

Gareth bale is that one player that when he is committed the man can do the almost impossible

Squawka News

@SquawkaNews

Wales 1-0 Ukraine HT:

Shots: 5-8
Shots on target: 1-5
Possession: 37%-63%
Pass accuracy: 77%-84%
Corners: 2-5

Gareth Bale's deflected free-kick the difference at the break.

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Wales 1-0 Ukraine HT:

Shots: 5-8
Shots on target: 1-5
Possession: 37%-63%
Pass accuracy: 77%-84%
Corners: 2-5

Gareth Bale's deflected free-kick the difference at the break. https://t.co/nRujDQtsg9

Danny Lopez

@DannyLopezLV

Come on Bale!!!!

Come on Bale!!!!

FA Cup 2022 Winners

@filthmino

Bale finally in a world cup >>>

Bale finally in a world cup >>>

@damrichards2042

@damrichards2042

Gareth Bale #MWG Member of Welsh Greats

Gareth Bale #MWG Member of Welsh Greats

anuel

@footyanuel

Bale actually carrying his team to the World Cup

Bale actually carrying his team to the World Cup

FIFA World Cup

@FIFAWorldCup

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒊𝒈 𝒐𝒄𝒄𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Gareth Bale has arrived.

1577

144

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒊𝒈 𝒐𝒄𝒄𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Gareth Bale has arrived. ✨ https://t.co/gKQoOyYI5r

J E E M

@JeemAlhashim

I heard that Bale scored for Wales!? 🤩

1

I heard that Bale scored for Wales!? 🤩

Faisal

@Fos_a1

Gareth Bale

Gareth Bale https://t.co/bVKIjc81ue

Jack

@LFCJack_96

VIVA GARETH BALE

VIVA GARETH BALE

darren lear

@LearDarren

So does bale get that goal??

So does bale get that goal??

talkSPORT

@talkSPORT

Gareth Bale: The greatest British player of all time? 🤔 #WALUKR

2460

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Gareth Bale: The greatest British player of all time? 🤔 #WALUKR https://t.co/yjNIbrcI4c

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Gareth Bale will lead Wales into their first FIFA World Cup since 1958

Gareth Bale is a talisman for his team and will lead them at the FIFA World Cup

Wales have only ever qualified for the FIFA World Cup once and that was all the way back in 1958. Since then, the Dragons have had a slow rise to prominence on the international scene.

Their most recent success came at the European Championships in 2016 where they made it to the semi-finals, only to be defeated by eventual winners Portugal.

Gareth Bale leads the Welsh side with true character and grit. For many, they are a guilty pleasure to watch at times. The Welsh wizard is once again the man of the hour on the international stage and it will be intriguing to see which club he is at come World Cup time.

The 32-year-old has left Real Madrid following the expiration of his contract and has been touted (as per an interview his agent gave to Record) with a return to the Premier League.

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