Wales 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina (2-4 pens) result - World Cup dream ends in penalty shootout defeat as Craig Bellamy's team fall short

Wales were so close. Once again, it had to happen in the cruelest fashion possible, losing on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina, who can now dream of realising their own World Cup dream.

At 1-0 in the 86th minute, Craig Bellamy's side were a few tense moments away from securing another famous win in Cardiff.

Dan James' goal shortly after half-time was a goal worthy of a win. A goal worthy of World Cup qualification. A thunderbolt 25 yards from goal that stunned Nikola Vasilj and elicited rapture at Cardiff City Stadium.

The Red Wall had endured a tense first half in which the visitors picked up three yellow cards and successfully attempted to shut Wales down with their physicality.

Harry Wilson was inches away from scoring in the first half with a beautiful curling strike that hit the post and ricocheted away.

A Welsh goal felt inevitable from that moment on. Unfortunately, a Bosnia goal soon felt inevitable after James rifled his side into the lead.

The game opened up and not in favour of the Welsh, who sacrified their control over the game for space and sloppiness in defence. Bosnia, namely forward Ermedin Demirovic, grew into the game and their chances piled up.

With four minutes left before the clock struck 90, it was their most famous player who turned the game on its head, as Edin Dzeko finally managed to beat Karl Darlow and level the game.

Neither side really looked like scoring in extra-time. Welsh replacement Sorba Thomas peppered Bosnia's backline with crosses and that was when the absence of Kieffer Moore was really felt.

From the 90th minute to the 120th, Bosnia seemed completely content to play for penalties. Wales searched and probed, desperate to avoid them.

Those attitudes were soon reflected in the shootout. After Darlow saved the opening spot kick, Wales missed two, with Brennan Johnson scooping his shot high over the ball, and Neco Williams missing his.

It fell on the shoulders of talented RB Salzburg starlet Kerim Alajbegovic to secure the win for Bosnia as he slid his penalty home to send Bosnia through to a clash with Italy.

Tears of joy for Bosnia's warriors and tears of sadness as Welsh fans kiss their dream of summer in America goodbye.

An agonising game followed up by an excruciating penalty shootout.

Alajbegović slides his penalty home and Wales's dream of a summer in North America is dead.

4-2 on penalties in the end.

Silence in Cardiff as Bosnia are a step away from winning.

Hadžiahmetović with a perfect penalty.

Poor penalty from Brennan Johnson. Scooped it high. 2-2 it remains.

Great pen from Basic. 2-2.

2-1 WALES.

Tabakovic scores for the visitors. 1-1.

1-0 Wales.

DARLOW SAVES BOSNIA'S FIRST PENALTY.

He guess Demirovic's shot right.

This will be the most pressure that a lot of these players have ever felt.

The Welsh fans are trying to sing their way back into this.

INCHES AWAY FROM WINNING IT!
Wales were so, so close to winning it with yet another great ball in from Sorba Thomas.

Brennan Johnson heads it back across goal, but no one is on there to get a head or boot to it.

Four more minutes of extra time before we head to penalties.

Sorba Thomas has given Wales so many crosses and chances, and it really must make Bellamy miss having a player like Kieffer Moore in the box.

This is definitely going to penalties and Bosnia seem content to gamble on that.

Wilson was waiting an age to take this corner and Bosnia are doing everything they can to waste time.

They manage to waste it even more with a change, as Amar Dedic is off for Armin Gigovic.

Edin Dzkeo and Craig Bellamy are getting into it on the sidelines. God know what started it.

Bosnia coach Sergej Barbarez is getting lively too and is forced back into his area.

There's a yellow card for Dzeko, but nothing for Bellamy. This is chaos.

Wales had the momentum coming into this second period but it's soon died down.

Feels like Bosnia are prepared and hoping for pens...

Wales open the second half here. One last go before penalties.

Tired minds and tired bodies out there.