Wales' youngsters must try again in their battle to secure a UEFA Under-21 Championship play-off after losing at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground tonight.

A goal from Gabriel Torje gave Romania a 1-0 victory over a strong Welsh side.

Brian Flynn's men now have to travel to face Romania on September 9, needing a point from that game to secure a play-off in October in a bid to qualify for next year's finals in Sweden.

Wales totally dominated the first half and going into the break could have been four goals up, Ched Evans and Sam Vokes linking well throughout the first half but with nothing to show for their efforts.

Wales' best chance came from a cross by Evans after six minutes. He got clear of the Romanian defence and whipped the ball to the edge of the six-yard area into the feet of Vokes but his strike was directed straight to the hands of Cristian Tatarusanu in the Romanian goal.

Wolves forward Vokes also saw chances go begging in the 23rd and 28th minutes from fine crosses into the area from Gareth Bale. On both occasions he was unable to direct headers into the Romanian goal.

Two minutes after the interval Evans again broke down the right and lifted the ball to the far post where Shaun MacDonald was towering above the Romanian defence only to direct his header straight at Tatarusanu, who needed two attempts to fully gather the ball.

Wales were again dominating and after 66 minutes Bale cut past the defence and fired a shot straight at Tatarusanu who cleared the shot with his knees.

But Wales were left shocked in the 66th minute when MacDonald gave away a silly free-kick 40 yards out and Torje's strike whistled past Wayne Hennessey in the Welsh goal.

Wales' best chance of the half came in the 84th minute when Mark Bradley, who had come on to replace Rhys Williams, picked the ball up at the edge of the Romanian area from a poor clearance. His strike was heading for the top corner but Tatarusanu pushed the ball up onto the cross bar.

On the stroke of full-time, Wales' appeals for a penalty fell on deaf ears when Vokes was bundled over in the area.