Wales fought out a 2-2 draw against Belarus in their opening Uefa Under-17 Championship group fixture at Centro de Treino, Luso in Portugal.
Manchester United’s Iestyn Hughes was sent off just after the hour when he fouled Rusian Lisakovich and conceded a penalty.
Aleksei Shalashnikov converted the spot-kick to make the score 1-1 and Belarus earned a draw thanks to an own goal three minutes from time.
Swansea City’s Josh Thomas fired Wales in front after 11 minutes with Will Russ providing the assist.
Que estreia no apuramento para o Euro 2019!👏 A Seleção de Sub-17 venceu o Cazaquistão por 10-0! 🇵🇹#TudoPorPortugal pic.twitter.com/6LOnJFdp2M
— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) October 10, 2018
Shalashnikov’s spot-kick after 65 minutes made it 1-1, while Bradley Gibbons put Wales ahead for a second time from a Chem Campbell prompt.
Belarus pressed forward in search of a second equalise and Gleb Rovdo had a shot blocked before the ball deflected into the Welsh net off David Robson to complete the 2-2 scoreline.
In the second group 11 fixture, played at Estádio Municipal de Aveiro, Portugal stormed to a 10-0 win against Kazakhstan.
Five goals in each half left the losers reeling with Portuguese goals from Famana Quizera (19 mins), Paulo Guilherme Gonçalves Bernardo (21), Filipe Miguel Nicolacia Cruz (26), Daniel Oliveira Rodrigues (39 and 45+1), Ronaldo Camara (49 and 67), Gerson Liliano Sanches De Sousa (57), Tiago Barreiros De Melo Tomás (75), and Gonçalo João Marques Santos Batalha (80).
The next test for Wales manager Rob Page and his team is a fixture against Kazakhstan on Saturday (October 13, 2pm), while Portugal face Belarus.
Hungary and Romania are the latest teams through to the #U17EURO elite round https://t.co/Vr8qq0sdXn
— UEFA.com (@UEFAcom) October 6, 2018
Page and his under-17 group then finish against Portugal on Tuesday, October 16 (4pm).
This is Edwards’ first qualifying campaign with the squad, most of whom were involved in the Telki Cup in August where Wales lost against Czech Republic and Croatia, earned a 2-2 draw against hosts Hungary.
There are 13 qualifying groups in total with all winners, all runners-up and the four best third-placed teams going forward into the elite round.
Teams, Belarus v Wales:
Belarus: Mikhail Kozakevich (gk), Andrei Makarenko, Aleksei Shalashnikov, Vladislav Kalinin, Kirill Kirkitski (Vladislav Sychev 46), Gleb Rovdo (Yegor Nikiporenok 90), Stanislav Lomako (Kirill Zabelin 68), Maksim Kovalevich (capt), Oleg Plyut (Maksim Natynchik 68), Rusian Lisakovich, Nikita Zhuk (Makar Litskevich 38).
Wales: David Robson (gk), Iestyn Hughes, Harvey Rew, Eli King, Luc Noble (capt), Jack Madelin, Will Russ (Michael Sparkes 72), Ruben Colwill (Chem Campbell 59), Jamie Rickard (Bradley Gibbings 72), Dan Malone (Joe Budd 72), Josh Thomas (Tivonge Rushesha 66).
Referee: Fyodor Zammit (Malta)
Wales under-17 squad: Cian Tyler (Coventry City), David Robson (Hull City), Jack Madelin (AFC Wimbledon), Harvey Rew (Portsmouth), Luc Noble (Bristol Rovers), Jamie Taylor (Bristol City), Chem Campbell, (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Ollie Denham (Manchester United), Jamie Will Rickard (Swansea City), Bradley Gibbings (Swansea City), Dan Malone (Stoke City), Will Russ (Leicester City), Iestyn Hughes (Manchester United), Michael Sparkes (Celtic), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City), Eli King (Cardiff City), Owen Hesketh (Manchester City), Owen Beck (Liverpool), Tivonge Rusheda (Swansea City), Josh Thomas (Swansea City), Joe Budd (Bristol Rovers).