A late Wales revival in Croatia proved in vain as Ryan Giggs' side suffered a setback in their bid to reach Euro 2020

The hosts, who have never lost at home in European Championship qualifying, took the lead in the searing Osijek heat as James Lawrence turned Ivan Perisic's powerful, low cross into his own net.

Wales threatened to level but always looked vulnerable at the back and one episode of particularly calamitous defending early in the second half allowed Perisic to score the World Cup finalists' second goal.

Gareth Bale fanned the flames of a Welsh comeback with a handful of well-struck shots, and those faint hopes looked more like genuine belief when substitute David Brooks scored from 20 yards via a deflection.

But despite their late efforts in severely draining conditions - with a stretching Brooks agonisingly close to scoring a second - Wales fell short of snatching what would have been a valuable point.

Having beaten Slovakia in their opening fixture in March, Wales are now third in Group E, three points behind leaders and top seeds Croatia.

On Tuesday Giggs' men visit Hungary, who are away against Azerbaijan in the group's late kick-off on Saturday.