Wales 1 – 1 Ghana

Lewis Coumas scored his first international goal to save Wales in a 1-1 draw with World Cup-bound Ghana in Cardiff.

Substitute Caleb Irenky cheered for a noisy Ghanaian side after 66 minutes, converting from close range after the ball had caught a post.

Ghanaian fans greeted Irenki’s goal as if it were at the World Cup – perhaps against group rivals England – rather than in a 33,000-capacity stadium that was about a third full.

But substitute Koumas on the hour avoided Wales’ embarrassment by nodding home Neko Williams’ cross in the third minute of stoppage time.

Daniel James hit the post twice after Wales manager Craig Bellamy pointed out the Dragons’ disappointing June record.

Wales have lost seven of their previous 11 matches in June, winning just two.

This friendly marked the 150th anniversary of the Football Association of Wales, which was formed in a Wrexham hotel in 1876, and the Dragons wore a simple red and white retro kit for the occasion.

It was also the first time Wales had played African opposition on home soil, but the play-off heartbreak in March was something of a World Cup hangover with empty seats.

Bellamy fielded arguably the strongest XI available to him in the absence of injured duo Ben Davies and Harry Wilson.

Ghana named Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo – who had a loan spell at nearby Newport earlier in his career – on the bench, while former Swansea striker Jordan Ayew wore the armband.

Jonas Adjete twice came to Ghana’s rescue in the opening exchanges before James almost added to his 10 international goals.

Laurens Atti-Ziggi made a superb point-blank stop to push James’ header against a post and the Leeds winger hit the crossbar after Thomas Partey blocked his first attempt.

Ayew shot wildly but Ghana did not threaten until Carl Darlow’s pass to Joe Rodon failed. The Leeds goalkeeper atoned for his clumsiness by pushing away Ayew’s effort on the edge of the six-yard box.

Ghana were increasingly in the contest and Williams took the sting out of Kamaldin Sulemana’s shot before Darlow was forced to tip in a Marvin Senaya volley that deflected off Sorba Thomas.

But the Black Stars are perhaps lucky to still be at full strength, with the party tauntingly dropping David Brooks after being alerted to a similar challenge to James.

Partey was surprisingly substituted at half-time and Ghana survived when Gideon Mensah’s careless touch sent the ball inches wide.

The Black Stars made the most of that escape when Williams tripped and Swedish referee Oscar Johnson ignored a penalty appeal.

Ernest Numah burst out to make a fine diving stop from Darlow, but Irenky was on hand to nudge the ball home.

It looked as if it would condemn Wales to defeat but Koumas, who ended the domestic season with loan club Hull celebrating promotion to the Premier League, joined his father Jason as an international goalscorer.

Analysis: Did Tuchel learn anything ahead of World Cup showdown?

Sky Sports’ Lewis Jones:

“With England facing Ghana in the World Cup group stage, will Thomas Tuchel be wise to the challenge facing the Three Lions on June 23?

“The honest answer is probably not.

“International warm-up matches are often frustrating exercises for scouts and analysts.

“Managers are understandably reluctant to show their full hand with a big tournament around the corner, key players protected, intensity levels fluctuating and tactical plans firmly under wraps. This game fell firmly into that category.

“For a long time, Ghana looked a team with one eye on the big picture. They were second best for the opening hour due to Wales controlling territory and possession, moving the ball through midfield with relative ease and limiting Ghana’s attacking threats. It was hardly a performance that would have alarmed Tuchel or his coaching staff.

“Yet context is everything.

“Ghana’s biggest attacking weapon, Semenyo, was left on the bench as management chose to reserve one of their most influential players ahead of the tournament. Any assessment of Ghana’s attacking prowess was therefore laced with a big caveat.

“Without Semenyo, Ghana lacked a focal point capable of stretching Wales at the back. Ayew, now firmly in the seasoned phase of his career, manned the middle but struggled to provide the pace, physicality or penetration needed to trouble the Welsh backline. Attacks often looked predictable and easily contained.

“That changed when the bench was introduced.

“The arrival of Nuamah and eventual goalscorer Irenky breathed life into Ghana’s game. Wales, comfortable for most of the evening, found themselves pushed back more often.

“Irenky’s goal was reward for a much-improved final half-hour and gave Ghana a glimpse of what can happen when their smaller, more dynamic attackers are involved.”