Helsinki Heaven
Finland 0 Wales 2
Exit John Robinson, enter Simon Davies. Barely a month after the hardcore fans' fave retires we've got a new superman in the side - a gutbusting, full-of-beans hustler capable of giving us moments we'll remember for ever. Particularly this one:
The slender sliver of Solva silver sparked the craziest terrace celebrations for several seasons with that superb second.
The roar was so long and loud, it's amazing we haven't charred lungs as a result.
This fan gripped the shoulders of the supporter in front wearing a red wig so hard and for so long that Wigman must have thought I was making a pass at him.
The bloke next to me burst into tears.
It was a goal so lovely, a pleasure so acutely intense, it was almost toxic.
As for Davies, crikey, he went even more mental than the fans and that took some doing.
Full credit for making his first port of call the corner flag in front of Section B where we were all pogoing like it was our first punk gig. Earnie's goal in May was celebrated in classic fashion with a somersault, but Davies?
The boy went bazonkas. A frenzy so raw that I'm sure the video will show he was foaming at the mouth.
Not often you see a Wales player look as though he cares so much about the goal he's just scored.
For diehards on a diet of drab 1-1s and a career of witnessing witless Welsh aways, it released a flood of fantasies.
All those dashed dreams banished to beyond the pit of your stomach because you don't want to end up in the loonybin came back in an instant.
It could be the goal that opens up a qualification for a tournament. That's what we all sensed in a millisecond. 2-0 up against a ropey Finland side. Surely we couldn't lose. Once in a lifetime we've been saying. Qualify just once in a lifetime and we'll die happy.
In the last two years Wales have given up six 1-0 leads which was why this serial doom-monger celebrated so hard. It's been difficult to be confident of a clean sheet with the current side which is why a second goal is so important.
Anyway, the pressure was soon further taken away shortly after when Finland fielded Jonatan Johansson for a late flurry in the second half. It was an instant reminder of a conversation with a home fan the night before.
He reckoned: "We have a very useless centre-forward. Johansson. He's no fucking good. Fifteen games and and no goals (sounds like Iwan Roberts I told him). If he scores against you tomorrow, I will eat my fucking balls!"
So no sweetmeats on the menu after this match anyway.
Davies aside, it was a dazzling performance. Gabbidon's non-Premiership pedigree was never exposed as some feared it might be. We still look a bit ropey down the left-hand side but that will never change now it seems possible that Chris Coleman may never play again.
But the midfield, collectively, must be the toughest nuts in Europe and the selfless Hartson deserved his goal on a plate. He's not had many easyish chances so let's hope more are on the way.
As for the other team - us, the glory-seeking Calon Lan-crooning boys with picks and shovels in Section B - it was yet another fantastic performance. I was too doolally with daydreams, surfing a tidal wave of serotonins. but I'm assured the Olympiastadion fans and stewards applauded us out of their stadium.
Well, why not? 1,500 Byrn Terfels we were. Titanic. Think of any superlative - they all fit the bill and they wouldn't be hyperbole. Incredible performance on the pitch, incredible on the terrace too. We may all be lighter in the pocket, but we're all brighter in the heart for this win.
Believe me, it doesn't get better than this.
Highlight: Davies's salute will be savoured for eternity. And how we deserved it. For all you first-timers (remember, you'll rarely see us play this well away from home again), make sure you come again. Some regulars prefer it when only 60 turn up, but it was great to see1,500 fans, all behaving very well,,at a game and not witness an appalling embarrassment.
With a fans' game (we lost 7-2, report to follow when I can be bothered) against Finnish supporters creating a good impression and the general all-round joy we brought to this city, we all deserve free away tickets for life.
Best player: Davies, of course. Many thanks to Glenn Hoddle, Barry Fry, Sparky, the player himself and Rachel Evans of Milford Haven, who was one of his teachers at St David's and is the sister of my mate Bill. I'm sure she had something to do with it all. News of the World got it right when it picked him as man of the match, but illustrated their pick with a picture of Darren Barnard. Sunday Mirror said it was Ryan Giggs. Still trying to work that one out.
Flags of the day: Lots of goodies. Could the Finnish owner of "Giggs has a boner" please get in touch with some sort of explanation, however stupid. "CPD Crannog" won the where-the-hell-is-that? prize (Llangrannog apparently).
My fave was "Wales on Ruokaa". Fan of the day Ulla told me that this means "Wales is Food", meaning that the Finns would feast like we were some Helsinki herring hotpot and murder us 10-0. A highly visible flag in the first half, but nowhere to be seen after half-time, it was noted with some satisfaction.
Worst dresser: Craig Bellamy at the airport after the game was togged out in distressed denim that reminded me of Status Quo's Blue For You album cover and he looked like a backpacker. You're on 25,000 a week mun, get some kosher kit will you?
Under-21s: It's now 750 games since they won but the 2-1 loss at FC Haka's ground was deeply undeserved. This fan's never seen the under-21s play with any semblance of what could pass for zest. But they did. And no, I wasn't drunk or on drugs. They were robbed, no question. A rash prediction: they will win a game very soon, but maybe not next month against Italy.
Fan of week: Regular readers may be aware that there is a quest more important than Welsh qualification. No, not world peace. It is the indefatigable, unquenchable and downright Stalinistic pursuit of getting a birdbrained, techno-typewriter music-lovin' Eurotrash DJ to play The Clash at a nightclub. A simple, polite request that has met with stony silence and sneers from badly-dressed, Bee Gee-lovin bastards across the globe.
So fan of the week is Maindy maiden Ulla, from somewhere near the Finnish border with Russia, but studying in Cardiff. This silver-tongued siren succeeded where blood-curdling threats have failed. Probably because she asked nicely and didn't breathe lager fumes on the DJ. Rock the Casbah duly rocked Baker's Bar at 1.30am on Sunday.
It was the perfect end to a perfect day.
adecolley@hotmail.com