Albania 1-0 Wales: Humbling defeat for Giggs as Gunter breaks caps record

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Chris Gunter made his Wales debut in a 2-2 draw against New Zealand in 2007

Wales suffered an embarrassing 1-0 friendly defeat in Albania to take the shine off Chris Gunter's record-breaking 93rd appearance.

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Gunter captained his country for only the second time as he surpassed Neville Southall's existing mark of 92 caps, though the visitors failed to produce a performance to match Gunter's achievement.

A much-changed and youthful Wales side squandered a host of chances to take the lead against the hosts, ranked 60th in the world and smarting from a 4-0 home thrashing by Scotland on Saturday.

Albania opened the scoring in the second half with their first shot on target and only their third goal in nine matches, as Bekim Balaj struck with a penalty after Harry Wilson brought down Taulant Xhaka.

It was a particularly galling concession for Wales, as Xhaka was fortunate to have avoided a red card in the first half after headbutting David Brooks.

Wales were then denied a clear penalty of their own when Wilson was scythed down by Bekim Balaj and, although such decisions ultimately mean little in a friendly fixture, a fifth defeat from his first nine matches in charge will concern Wales manager Ryan Giggs.

Gunter's moment of history

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Wales' record breaker Chris Gunter

A dependable and unfussy full-back, Gunter has spent much of his career away from the limelight. But despite his typically modest protestations, this match was all about him.

From his debut as a 17-year-old to a staggering sequence of 63 consecutive starts from 2010 to September this year, Gunter has become as firm a Welsh football establishment as the red shirt.

It was fitting too that his record-breaking appearance should come thousands of miles from home, against the kind of unglamorous opponents Wales have faced for the majority of the 29-year-old's international career.

Such is the Reading right-back's standing among Wales' fans that 1,800 of them made the long journey to the tiny Elbasan Arena, almost outnumbering the home support.

The travelling contingent cheered Gunter's every touch, sang his name and even had the tantalising prospect of seeing him score his first international goal shortly before half-time - only for his left-footed strike to roll harmlessly towards home goalkeeper Etrit Berisha.

The match did not get much better for Gunter and his team-mates as they slumped to a defeat which was as lacklustre as it was unexpected.

Wales fans with a fondness for self-deprecating humour may even suggest that a defeat of this nature was almost fitting in its own, perverse kind of way.

Gunter has endured many lows with Wales as well as the searing highs, as a part of teams which languished outside the top 100 in the world rankings, as well as an important member of the side which reached the Euro 2016 semi-finals.

But Wales' defeat against Albania was no way to honour such a loyal servant who, while reluctant to receive adulation, always insists the result is most important and will therefore be thoroughly disheartened by this display.

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    Line-ups Match Stats Live Text

Line-ups

Albania

    1Berisha

    4Hysaj

    6Ismajli

    15Mavraj

    5Veseli

    8Basha

    22Uzuni

    2LilaBooked at 30minsSubstituted forMemushajat 59'minutes

    14XhakaBooked at 36mins

    7GrezdaSubstituted forLilajat 69'minutes

    19Balaj

Substitutes

    3Kaja

    9Memushaj

    11Vrioni

    12Kastrati

    13Lilaj

    17Ademi

    18Dermaku

    20Kace

    21Gavazaj

    23Strakosha

Wales

    12Ward

    14RobertsSubstituted forFreemanat 78'minutes

    4Lockyer

    3Lawrence

    2GunterBooked at 52mins

    8KingBooked at 43mins

    7AllenSubstituted forRamseyat 56'minutes

    18WilsonBooked at 58mins

    19BrooksSubstituted forBaleat 59'minutesBooked at 84mins

    20JamesSubstituted forWoodburnat 56'minutes

    9VokesSubstituted forMatondoat 78'minutes

Substitutes

    1Hennessey

    5Freeman

    6Williams

    10Ramsey

    11Bale

    13Thomas

    15Roberts

    16Matondo

    17Lawrence

    21Davies

    22Woodburn

Match Stats

Home TeamAlbaniaAway TeamWales

Possession

Home44%

Away56%

Shots

Home6

Away17

Shots on Target

Home2

Away4

Corners

Home1

Away9

Fouls

Home21

Away12

Live Text

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Posted at

Match ends, Albania 1, Wales 0.

Full TimePosted at 90'+4'

Second Half ends, Albania 1, Wales 0.

Posted at 90'+4'

Attempt blocked. Gareth Bale (Wales) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Posted at 90'+3'

Gareth Bale (Wales) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 90'+3'

Foul by Migjen Basha (Albania).

Posted at 90'+2'

Attempt saved. Taulant Xhaka (Albania) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ledian Memushaj.

Posted at 90'

Offside, Albania. Elseid Hysaj tries a through ball, but Bekim Balaj is caught offside.

Posted at 89'

Harry Wilson (Wales) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 89'

Foul by Taulant Xhaka (Albania).

Posted at 88'

Corner, Wales. Conceded by Mergim Mavraj.

Posted at 88'

Jamie Lawrence (Wales) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 88'

Foul by Bekim Balaj (Albania).

Posted at 87'

Attempt saved. Ben Woodburn (Wales) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Aaron Ramsey.

Posted at 86'

Kieron Freeman (Wales) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 86'

Foul by Myrto Uzuni (Albania).

Posted at 84'

Hand ball by Bekim Balaj (Albania).

BookingPosted at 84'

Gareth Bale (Wales) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 83'

Foul by Gareth Bale (Wales).

Posted at 83'

Taulant Xhaka (Albania) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 83'

Rabbi Matondo (Wales) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 83'

Foul by Migjen Basha (Albania).

Posted at 81'

Corner, Wales. Conceded by Elseid Hysaj.

Posted at 79'

Rabbi Matondo (Wales) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 79'

Foul by Migjen Basha (Albania).

SubstitutionPosted at 78'

Substitution, Wales. Kieron Freeman replaces Connor Roberts.

SubstitutionPosted at 78'

Substitution, Wales. Rabbi Matondo replaces Sam Vokes.

Posted at 78'

Attempt missed. Sabien Lilaj (Albania) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Myrto Uzuni.

Posted at 77'

Attempt blocked. Gareth Bale (Wales) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

Posted at 77'

Attempt blocked. Andy King (Wales) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

Posted at 77'

Attempt blocked. Gareth Bale (Wales) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Tom Lockyer with a headed pass.

Posted at 77'

Corner, Wales. Conceded by Elseid Hysaj.

Posted at 76'

Attempt missed. Myrto Uzuni (Albania) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Ledian Memushaj.

Posted at 73'

Connor Roberts (Wales) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 73'

Foul by Myrto Uzuni (Albania).

Posted at 71'

Aaron Ramsey (Wales) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 71'

Foul by Ledian Memushaj (Albania).

Posted at 70'

Sam Vokes (Wales) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 70'

Foul by Ardian Ismajli (Albania).

SubstitutionPosted at 69'

Substitution, Albania. Sabien Lilaj replaces Eros Grezda.

Posted at 66'

Corner, Wales. Conceded by Migjen Basha.

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Source: bbc.com