Y Dreigiau’s depleted squad included six players who hadn’t started a competitive fixture at club level since the win against Latvia or longer, but they showed plenty of intent during the early exchanges with the backing of a vociferous home crowd.
Harry Wilson took up some promising positions, although Domagoj Vida blocked one effort and brought him down for a free-kick that was well saved by Dominik Livaković.
In contrast, Croatia had their fair share of possession in the first half but didn’t test Danny Ward at all as they struggled to get their front three into the game, with Petar Musa awkwardly looping a header over from their only notable opening.
Zlatko Dalić responded with a triple change at HT but found his side behind within two minutes of the restart.
Ward’s long ball up the pitch wasn’t dealt with at all and when David Brooks flicked the ball on, Wilson raced behind before sending a delicate finish past Livaković.
Wales suffered a blow of their own as Brooks went off injured before the hour mark, although his replacement Dan James contributed to the second just three minutes after his introduction.
The winger put in a delightful cross that Wilson deftly glanced into the bottom corner to get a brace having not scored in his previous 11 competitive matches for club and country.
James continued to show his intent and curled an effort marginally wide after cutting inside Marcelo Brozović.
Mario Pašalić reacted to Kieffer Moore’s flick from Luka Modrić corner to head home with a quarter-hour remaining in a moment that finally brought the Kockasti to life.
It proved too little too late, with Ward holding Dion Beljo’s header in the final moments as Wales held out to earn back-to-back ECQ victories and jump into second spot in Group D.
Y Dreigiau take the place of Croatia, who have lost consecutive ECQs for the first time as an independent nation and risk ending their run of reaching five consecutive finals.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Harry Wilson (Wales)
