Armenia 1 Wales 1: Welsh hopes of reaching third successive Euros hanging by a thread and now set for huge final match

Wales’ hopes of reaching the European Championship for the third time in a row are hanging by a thread after once again failing to beat Armenia.

Rob Page’s Dragons went into the match knowing two wins would guarantee them a place in Germany this summer.

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But it looks like they’ll have to do it the hard way – via Nations League Playoffs in the spring.

Their only hope now is to beat Turkey in Cardiff on Tuesday, and they will hope Croatia stumbles in one of the final two matches.

If Wales Spend June at the beach, not on the beach euroIt would be the two matches against Armenia that cost them.

She was He was awkwardly beaten at home in the summer A mere point here was not enough under these circumstances.

Despite the confidence borne of victory over Croatia in October, Wales got off to a slow start and fell behind within five minutes.

Lucas Zelarayan cut the ball inside and then skillfully shot a shot into the bottom corner – kissing the post on his way into the net.

It was a lovely strike from the Argentine-born midfielder who was also on the mark in his country’s shock win in Cardiff in the summer.

The Dragons went close to an immediate response as David Brooks found space in the box but fired his effort over the bar while Kieffer Moore’s header was wide.

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A reckless challenge from Chris Mepham earned him a yellow card – ruling him out of Tuesday’s final group match against Turkey.

The Bournemouth centre-back was lucky not to be shown a second yellow card minutes later, but things went wrong for Rob Page’s men.

They were struggling to create any notable chances in front of hostile fans in Yerevan.

Harry Wilson, the hero against the Croats, shot a curling ball that was deflected around the post by the team’s goalkeeper, Eugen Kancarevic.

Page has made the decision to let go of Tottenham striker Brennan Johnson – choosing to keep his faith in the team that produced a heroic performance against Croatia last month.

But it was hard not to think that the pace of the former Nottingham Forest player as well as Dan James could have caused the hosts some further problems.

It was a strangely flat half for the Dragons considering how much was at stake.

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But in first-half stoppage time, the visitors got a big slice of good fortune.

Connor Roberts screamed as a long throw was aimed at Joe Rodon’s head and the on-loan Leeds player stepped up to it.

But Nair Teknesian got there first and missed a header, sending it past his own goalkeeper

However, Wales knew they would have to perform much better if they wanted to go on and win the match.

Page waited less than five minutes into the second half before deciding it was time to make a change – bringing on Johnson instead of Brooks.

Playing on the right flank, the £45m player immediately began asking his full-back some questions.

But Armenia was very excited, knowing that its hopes of reaching Germany would remain alive after two wins.

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They were on the verge of restoring the lead when Vahan Bechakhshyan fired a shot that beat Danny Ward but hit the underside of the crossbar.

Zelarayan followed the ball but shot high over the crossbar and Wales shot a powerful shot.

Diver Dan James, who replaced Wilson after the hour mark, teed up namesake Jordan but his low shot was blocked by Kancarevic.

Full-back Neco Williams, who cut in from the left flank, fired a long-range shot that just cleared the crossbar.

The only team that was suitable was Croatia, so both teams were pushing for a win.

Armenia threw everything forward and a shot from Edouard Spersyan required a brilliant save from Neco Williams to send it over the bar.

At the other end, Kiefer Moore’s header was saved by Kancarevic, although the goalkeeper made a great effort to clear it.

Johnson’s cross from the right looked perfect for diver Nathan Broadhead, but was clipped over the bar by a home team defender.

In the final minutes, Ward made a smart save from Edgar Cevikyan’s shot to save at least a point for the visitors.

It keeps them in second place – but their fate is now out of their hands.