World Cup 2018 qualifier: Gareth Bale’s header cancelled out as sloppy Wales suffer blow with 1-1 draw against Georgia

Wales suffered a World Cup qualifying shock as they were held 1-1 at home by Georgia - a team ranked 127 places below them in the FIFA rankings.

Gareth Bale gave Wales the perfect start with his 25th international goal after 10 minutes, rising superbly to meet Joe Ledley's corner.

But Wales were punished for their first-half profligacy when Georgia counter-attacked at will after the break, and Tornike Okriashvili's 57th minute header gave them their first point in Group D.

The absence of Joe Allen and Aaron Ramsey, through injury, put extra emphasis on Gareth Bale to perform, and the Real Madrid forward didn't take long to get his 25th goal for his country.

Joe Ledley's 10th-minute corner found Bale unmarked in the six-yard area to score with a trademark header.

The 27-year-old was clearly in the mood, running at defenders at every opportunity, and testing Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Loria with a 25-yard free-kick which he himself had won.

Georgia were almost struggling for breath, so quickly were Wales moving the ball, and after a brief lull in affairs they were stretched again by a scorching Bale break.

The impressive Ben Davies won possession near his own corner flag and released Bale for a 60-yard burst, which was only ended by a desperate block from Kverkvelia.

But Wales had a let-off after 33 minutes when King was penalised for handball right on the edge of the penalty area, and Jano Ananidze's curled effort touched the crossbar on the way through.

The opportunity gave Georgia belated momentum and the visitors soon worked another shooting opportunity for Valerian Gvilia.

Wales needed a second goal to ease any nerves which may have existed among the sell-out Cardiff City Stadium crowd of 32,652.

But Georgia were firmly in the game now, and Tornike Okriashvili put his shot wide from 20 yards before the visitors equalised after 57 minutes.

Neil Taylor conceded possession and Georgia broke quickly for Valeri Kazaishvili to float a ball to the back post, which the unmarked Okriashvili finished with a firm header.

It was the first goal Wales had conceded in a home qualifier for 481 minutes, and Euro 2016 hero Hal Robson-Kanu was sent on to remedy the situation.

There was instantly a greater sense of urgency, and Bale twice went close from range while Vokes came within inches of latching on to Chris Gunter's ball which flashed across goal.

But Georgia carried a mounting threat on the break and Ananidze forced Hennessey into a full-length save from 20 yards.

And Wales should have been punished when Bale lost possession, and Davies' weak challenge allowed Okriashvili to leave Levan Mchedlidze with the goal at his mercy.

But Mchedlidze's effort drifted wide of the post with the advancing Hennessey beaten.

The Wales defence was wobbling badly, and Gvilia went close with a long-range effort before Kazaishvili struck the crossbar from 20 yards.

Bale's free-kick fell just outside the post, and Robson-Kanu saw his shot saved by Loria as Wales mounted a late charge.

But Georgia were worthy of their first point in the World Cup qualifying campaign to dent Welsh ambitions on the road to Russia.