Wales 2 - Holland 3: Robben's double condemns wounded Dragons to defeat in Cardiff

Arjen Robben scored twice to condemn Wales to a 3-2 defeat at the Cardiff City Stadium

WALES found out there is no substitute for class as the absence of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey proved costly against the Dutch.

 

Dragons boss Chris Coleman had warned his men they needed to figure out how to handle the absence of their two superstars incase misfortune should strike them in France next summer.

While they showed plenty of grit and graft, fighting back through Joe Ledley and Emyr Huws after Dutch strikes from Bas Dost and Arjen Robben, the Bayern Munich man showed the difference players of true world class calibre can make by firing home the winner nine minutes from time.

 



Bas Dost opening the scoring with a powerful header against Chris Coleman's Wales



 



Ledley scoring Wales' equalising goal to make it 1-1 at the Cardiff City Stadium



The Dutch may have failed to reach the Euro 2016 finals, but they still had several players who helped them finish third at last year’s World Cup and they started strongly.

Tom Lawrence stepping in for the injured Bale, missed two half chances on a lively first start for his country, but the visitors took a 32nd minute lead when Dost headed in Daryl Janmaat’s cross.

 

Emyr Huws heading home to make it 2-2 in Cardiff

 

Robben tucking away Holland's third and his second of the game

But Wales levelled on the stroke of half-time. Terence Kongolo was harshly adjudged to have handled Ben Davies’ volley and Ledley struck his first international goal in more than five years when Jasper Cillessen saved Joe Allen’s spot-kick.

Robben restored the Dutch lead with a sublime goal shortly after the restart, tormenting Davies before beating Wayne Hennessey.

Huws first international goal courtesy of a powerful header from Allen’s cross looked to have earned Wales a draw, but Robben raced clear to condemn Wales to a first home defeat in two years.