Wales delivered the dictionary definition of a backs-to-the-wall display, defying a missed penalty, a glut of home chances and 90 minutes of hostility to snatch a point in Turkey.

Boss Craig Bellamy was a post’s width away from losing his unbeaten record at Kayseri. Yet Wales head into their final Nations League B match at home to Iceland on Tuesday knowing they can still win promotion to the top tier.

They probably needed to beat Turkey to have any realistic hope of overhauling Vincenzo Montella’s Euro 2024 quarter-finalists – they are still two points behind the Turks.

But given the way events unfolded in Kayseri, Bellamy still has to believe it. Turkey racked up 25 chances to Wales’ four, none better than the last-minute penalty awarded to them for a foul by Neco Williams. A crowd that had been hostile for nearly 90 minutes fell silent only when Kerem Akturkoglu, given the role of chosen hero, inflated his lines by hitting the post.

“It would have been a real shame if it had gone through,” said Welsh goalkeeper Karl Darlow. “With the way we defended and the determination we showed, I thought we deserved a point.”

The 33,000-capacity Kadir Has Stadium may not be one of Turkey’s best-known stadiums, but residents of Kayseri, a city closer to Syria than Europe , were determined to mark the rare presence of the national team by making the Welsh shiver. .

Wales’ slim hopes of promotion to Group B remain alive after edging out a 0-0 draw at Kayseri

Kerem Akturkoglu missed a penalty in the 89th minute, spoiling Turkey’s chance to win.

And although Wales did not falter, the first half could not have been more one-sided. Yet the best chance fell to Wales. Harry Wilson was one post away from becoming the first Welsh man since Ian Rush to score in four successive international matches.

After the break Bournemouth striker Enes Unal missed a shot, more Turkish chances followed until the golden one came in the 89th minute when Spanish referee Juan Martinez Munuera awarded a penalty for a sliding tackle by Williams on Yunus Akgun.

Akturkoglu’s failure means Wales will live to fight another day.