Wales 2-1 Cyprus

Hal Robson-Kanu netted only his second international goal for Wales

• 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.

Gareth Bale was the victim of a cynical challenge early on, which saw Marios Nikolaou booked

Substitute David Cotterill (centre) put Wales ahead after he had only been on the pitch for seven minutes

Bale was involved in the build-up to Wales' second goal, which Hal Robson-Kanu scored

Andy King was shown a straight red card for a poor challenge two minutes into the second half

Wales had to play for the last 43 minutes with 10 men following King's dismissal

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Wales

• 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

• 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

Posted at

Match ends, Wales 2, Cyprus 1.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+5'

Second Half ends, Wales 2, Cyprus 1.

Booking

Posted at 90'+4'

Giorgos Merkis (Cyprus) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 90'+4'

Foul by Giorgos Merkis (Cyprus).

Posted at 90'+4'

Gareth Bale (Wales) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 90'+3'

Corner, Wales. Conceded by Pieros Sotiriou.

Posted at 90'+3'

Corner, Wales. Conceded by Vincent Laban.

Posted at 90'+2'

Corner, Wales. Conceded by Vincent Laban.

Posted at 90'+2'

Attempt blocked. Gareth Bale (Wales) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Chris Gunter.

Booking

Posted at 90'+1'

Dave Edwards (Wales) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 90'+1'

Constantinos Makridis (Cyprus) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 90'+1'

Foul by Dave Edwards (Wales).

Posted at 89'

Foul by Nektarious Alexandrou (Cyprus).

Posted at 89'

Chris Gunter (Wales) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 87'

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.

Posted at 86'

Corner, Wales. Conceded by Georgios Efrem.

Posted at 86'

Attempt blocked. David Cotterill (Wales) right footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the left is blocked.

Booking

Posted at 85'

Charis Kyriakou (Cyprus) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 85'

Foul by Charis Kyriakou (Cyprus).

Posted at 85'

Gareth Bale (Wales) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Substitution

Posted at 85'

Substitution, Cyprus. Andreas Papathanasiou replaces Angelis Angeli.

Substitution

Posted at 85'

Substitution, Wales. Jake Taylor replaces Hal Robson-Kanu.

Posted at 83'

Attempt missed. Georgios Efrem (Cyprus) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Charis Kyriakou with a cross.

Posted at 83'

Attempt missed. Hal Robson-Kanu (Wales) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Joe Ledley with a headed pass.

Posted at 77'

Foul by Giorgos Merkis (Cyprus).

Posted at 77'

Hal Robson-Kanu (Wales) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 75'

Foul by Constantinos Makridis (Cyprus).

Posted at 75'

Gareth Bale (Wales) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 74'

Foul by Pieros Sotiriou (Cyprus).

Posted at 74'

Chris Gunter (Wales) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 72'

Attempt missed. Gareth Bale (Wales) left footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.

Posted at 71'

Foul by Constantinos Makridis (Cyprus).

Posted at 71'

Dave Edwards (Wales) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 68'

Attempt missed. Gareth Bale (Wales) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the right misses to the left. Assisted by Chris Gunter.

Substitution

Posted at 68'

Substitution, Cyprus. Nektarious Alexandrou replaces Marios Nikolaou.

Posted at 66'

Attempt missed. Angelis Angeli (Cyprus) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Vincent Laban.

Booking

Posted at 64'

Pieros Sotiriou (Cyprus) is shown the yellow card.

Posted at 64'

Foul by Pieros Sotiriou (Cyprus).

Posted at 64'

James Chester (Wales) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 59'

Dangerous play by Constantinos Makridis (Cyprus).

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