Wales dream of qualifying after unbeaten start
CARDIFF: Wales continued their unbeaten start to the Euro 2016 campaign as a nervy 2-1 triumph over Cyprus, after they had been reduced to 10 men, bolstered the nation’s dream of qualifying for a major championship finals for only the second time.
Two first-half goals from substitute David Cotterill and Hal Robson-kanu put the home side on the way to a victory which sees them lead Group B with seven points and will feed the idea that Chris Coleman’s team could emulate the 1958 Welsh side, which played in the World Cup in Sweden.
BOSNIA AND BELGIUM SHARE SPOILS
ZENICA: Bosnia and Belgium drew 1-1 in an entertaining Group B qualifier after midfielder Radja Nainggolan cancelled out Edin Dzeko’s first-half opener for the Balkan nation on Monday.
A clinical strike by the lively Dzeko gave Bosnia the lead against the run of play before Nainggolan equalised thanks to a blunder by keeper Asmir Begovic, who had kept his team afloat in the first half.
The result left the Belgians on four points from two games after their opening 6-0 home rout of Andorra while Bosnia have two points from three matches following a 2-1 home defeat by Cyprus and a 0-0 draw at Wales
DEBUTANT PELLE
HANDS ITALY WIN
TA’ QALI, MALTA: Italy striker Graziano Pelle scored on his debut to earn a 1-0 away win over 10-man Malta with the visitors having hit the woodwork four times in their qualifier on Monday.
The Southampton striker, one of four changes made by Antonio Conte after Friday’s laboured 2-1 home win over Azerbaijan in Group H, struck from close range midway through the first half.
“We played against a team whose intention was not to let us play,” said Italy coach Conte “Having said that, we created a lot of chances and hit the wood work four times. “Our next games are against Croatia and Bulgaria, two teams who will be looking for the points. A proper evaluation of our strength will be made after these two qualifiers.”