Tottenham Hotspur forward Brennan Johnson was in international action on Tuesday night.
It was a bittersweet occasion for the Spurs ace, who played well for Wales against Turkey, but the Dragons failed to get over the Euro 2024 automatic qualification line.
Johnson was bright in the game at the Cardiff City Stadium, regularly looking a threat in behind, and managed to find the back of the net, only for it to be disallowed for offside.
The game was also marred by controversial refereeing decisions from Matej Jug, who officiated the game. Two of those involved the Tottenham summer signing.
Johnson received a yellow card in the 23nd minute of the game for dissent after he argued with a Turkish player following a foul on Harry Wilson just outside the box, but the latter didn’t get a card.
Then, later on, Jug waved away a penalty appeal from Wales after the Spurs man was brought down by Samet Akaydin inside the box.
‘Very, very poor’ decision involving Tottenham and Wales ace Brennan Johnson
At full time, this led to Sky Sports pundit and Dragons legend Robert Earnshaw bemoaning the “very poor” refereeing and the “unbelievable” decision not to award Johnson and Wales a penalty.
“Before tonight, there was only an outside chance but deep down I think we were settling for the play-offs. It’s going to be huge,” he said, via the Sky Sports website.
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“Each game will be like a cup final, so hopefully the final will be a home game. Looking at Wales away is very different as the big results have all come at home.
“The roof was on fire in the first half but they dropped off in the second. Going 1-0 up, they should have seen it through.
“But the referee was very, very poor. I cannot believe he’s given the penalty that he has tonight.
“Brennan Johnson had one in the first half that you felt was a lot more of a penalty. It’s an unbelievable decision.”
As disappointing as the refereeing was, Wales wouldn’t have qualified even if they won. Croatia’s 1-0 win over Armenia saw them qualify automatically ahead of the Dragons.
Johnson will now return to Tottenham hoping to help his club side bounce back following their recent downturn in form.
The 21-year-old has been featuring often after returning from a hamstring injury, and scored for Spurs in their loss to Wolves last time out.