Fired-up Bellamy quick on the draw for Wales

Craig Bellamy took his Champions League frustrations out on New Zealand reserves and saved manager John Toshack from one of the more embarrassing afternoons of his footballing life.

Left on the Athens sidelines and allegedly touted by Liverpool for £12million, the controversial forward was the only Welshman to play with any real motivation.

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He even finished the game as captain of his country following the late departure of Ryan Giggs.

The likes of Aston Villa, West Ham and Blackburn, who are all interested in enlisting the belligerent Bellamy, will have noted his exploits yesterday.

And yet the day belonged to the man with the comic-book name and an uninspiring career at Halifax Town — Shane Smeltz — who struck twice to put the unfancied Kiwis ahead.

Woeful Welsh defending allowed Smeltz to turn and collect Duncan Oughton's wayward pass, then rifle his finish beyond an unsuspecting Danny Coyne after only two minutes.

Bellamy timed his tap-in nicely to convert a Giggs cross in the 18th minute but New Zealand captain Tim Brown then lifted a tempting cross towards Smeltz, who rose to head his side back in front.

By now, Bellamy seemed to be positively seething at the way his difficult week was ending.

With a shuffle of his flashy yellow boots in the 38th minute, he unleashed all that pent-up anger with an explosive drive that earned his country a draw.