GARETH BALE DIDN’T hit the net tonight for Wales but he produced a glorious assist for Hal Robson-Kanu’s goal that helped the Welsh claim a 2-1 win over Cyprus in their Euro 2016 Group B game.
Chris Coleman’s side looked on course for a comfortable victory when they surged into a two-goal lead midway through the first half thanks to strikes from David Cotterill and Robson-Kanu at the Cardiff City Stadium.
This sublime back-heeled pass from Bale set Robson-Kanu away for the second goal.
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Wales were forced to sweat as Vincent Laban reduced the deficit for the visitors and Wales were forced to play virtually the entire second half with 10 men after Leicester midfielder King’s dismissal for a crude foul.
But, inspired by the counter-attacks of Gareth Bale and some obdurate defending from the Welsh back-four, Coleman’s unbeaten team held on for their second win in their opening three group matches.
Elsewhere tonight Southampton striker Graziano Pelle scored a first-half winner on his debut as Italy scraped a 1-0 victory away to 10-man Malta in their Euro 2016 qualifier.
Croatia and Italy top Group H, also with nine points apiece, but their victories tonight couldn’t have been more different, the Croats whipping Azerbaijan 6-0, one short of their record victory over Andorra in the Euro 2008 qualifiers.
In Group B, Bosnia took a lead into the half-time break, a smart left-footed effort by Edin Dzeko giving them a 1-0 advantage over Belgium.
The Bosnians had goalkeeper Asmir Begovic to thank for going in ahead as he produced a great save from Romelu Lukaku two minutes before half-time.
The visitors, though, did get back on equal terms six minutes into the second-half as Toby Alderweireld set up Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan to beat Begovic from the edge of the area.
Tonight’s results in full were:
Group A
Kazakhstan 2 Czech Republic 4
Iceland 2 Netherlands 0
Latvia 1 Turkey 1Group B
Wales 2 Cyprus 1
Andorra 1 Israel 4
Bosnia Herzegovina 1 Belgium 1Group H
Malta 0 Italy 1
Croatia 6 Azerbaijan 0
Norway 2 Bulgaria 1
Additional reporting by AFP
