Match ends, Wales 2, Cyprus 1.
WalesWales2CyprusCyprus1
- Unbeaten Wales remain top of Group B
- Bale sets up Robson-Kanu goal and hits bar
- Wales' King sent off for dangerous challenge
- Hosts hold on in tense finale
Wales clung on for a nerve-shredding win over Cyprus to remain top of their Euro 2016 qualifying group.
Wales appeared to be coasting as goals from David Cotterill and Hal Robson-Kanu - the latter a stylish team effort - gave them an early 2-0 lead.
But a goal from Vincent Laban and a red card for Wales midfielder Andy King gave Cyprus hope of claiming only their second victory in 16 matches.
A tactically disciplined display was enough, however, for a precious three points which gives Wales their best start to a qualifying campaign since 2002.
| Wales' remaining Euro 2016 qualifiers |
|---|
| Cyprus (a) 3 September 2015 |
| Belgium (a) 16 November 2014; (h) 12 June 2015 |
| Israel (a) 28 March 2015; (h) 6 September 2015 |
| Bosnia-Hercegovina (a) 10 October 2015 |
| Andorra (h) 13 October 2015 |
Wales made two change to the side that drew 0-0 with Bosnia-Hercegovina - Robson-Kanu replacing the injured Jonathan Williams and left-back Ben Davies making way for young Fulham winger George Williams - and the hosts were forced into another early alteration as Simon Church suffered a shoulder injury and had to be replaced by Cotterill.
And it was the substitute who gave Wales the lead as an inswinging cross from evaded its intended targets and bounced into the far corner.
While Cotterill's opener was more than a touch fortuitous, Wales doubled their lead with a sumptuous team goal.
Gareth Bale's delightful backheel set Robson-Kanu free for the Reading forward to slot the ball between the legs of Cyprus goalkeeper Tasos Kissas.
| Euro 2016 Group B qualifying table | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points |
| Wales | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| Israel | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Belgium | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Cyprus | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Bosnia-Hercegovina | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Andorra | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
At this point Wales were attacking at will, with Bale, Cotterill, Robson-Kanu and Williams all benefitting from loose Cypriot defending.
But, against the run of play, the visitors clawed themselves back into the tie as Laban's floated free-kick evaded Wales goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey and a handful of defenders on the line before nestling in the far corner.
The hosts' slender advantage made for a nervy atmosphere at the Cardiff City Stadium, and the home crowd's concerns grew when King was dismissed just two minutes after the restart for an ankle-high challenge on Cyprus captain Constantinos Makridis.
Having been in total command early in the game, Wales now faced the challenge of holding on to their lead with a man less for almost an entire half.
There were a couple of scares - George Efrem wasted Cyprus's best chance as he headed over from close range - but Wales dug deep for a valuable victory which strengthens their grip on top spot in Group B.
Line-ups
Wales
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1Hennessey
- 2Gunter
- 4Chester
- 6Williams
- 3Taylor
- 10Robson-KanuSubstituted forTaylorat 85'minutes
- 8KingBooked at 47mins
- 16LedleyBooked at 5mins
- 23WilliamsSubstituted forEdwardsat 58'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 11BaleBooked at 48mins
- 9ChurchSubstituted forCotterillat 6'minutesBooked at 34mins
Substitutes
- 5Davies
- 7Edwards
- 12Fon Williams
- 13Cotterill
- 14Gabbidon
- 15Williams
- 17Lawrence
- 18Ricketts
- 19Edwards
- 20Taylor
- 21Letheren
- 22John
Cyprus
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 12Kissas
- 8KyriakouBooked at 85mins
- 4MerkisBooked at 90mins
- 2Júnior Dossa MomadeSubstituted forAngeliat 29'minutesBooked at 39minsSubstituted forPapathanasiouat 85'minutes
- 15Antoniades
- 14Laban
- 23NikolaouBooked at 4minsSubstituted forAlexandrouat 68'minutes
- 9Christofi
- 13Makridis
- 17Efrem
- 20SotiriouBooked at 64mins
Substitutes
- 1Georgallidis
- 3Aresti
- 5Sielis
- 6Angeli
- 7Papathanasiou
- 10Charalambidis
- 11Alexandrou
- 16Kolokoudias
- 18Artymatas
- 19Stylianou
- 21Makris
- 22Loizou
- Referee:
- Manuel Gräfe
Match Stats
Home TeamWalesAway TeamCyprus
- Possession
- Home39%
- Away61%
- Shots
- Home17
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home8
- Away2
- Corners
- Home8
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away16
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Wales 2, Cyprus 1.
Booking
Giorgos Merkis (Cyprus) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Giorgos Merkis (Cyprus).
Post update
Gareth Bale (Wales) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Corner, Wales. Conceded by Pieros Sotiriou.
Post update
Corner, Wales. Conceded by Vincent Laban.
Post update
Corner, Wales. Conceded by Vincent Laban.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Gareth Bale (Wales) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Chris Gunter.
Booking
Dave Edwards (Wales) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Constantinos Makridis (Cyprus) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Dave Edwards (Wales).
Post update
Foul by Nektarious Alexandrou (Cyprus).
Post update
Chris Gunter (Wales) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Attempt missed. Dave Edwards (Wales) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Neil Taylor with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Wales. Conceded by Georgios Efrem.
Post update
Attempt blocked. David Cotterill (Wales) right footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the left is blocked.
Booking
Charis Kyriakou (Cyprus) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Charis Kyriakou (Cyprus).
Post update
Gareth Bale (Wales) wins a free kick on the left wing.
