' Chris Coleman's men sign off for France '
Tue Oct 13, 2015 9:40 pm
Wales 2-0 Andorra: Chris Coleman's men sign off for France on winning note through Ramsey and Bale goals
13 OCT 2015
BY CHRIS WATHAN
Belgium's win over Israel meant Wales had to settle for second place in the group, yet it mattered little to the success-starved supporters
It was more about the party than the performance but at least Wales ended a historic qualifying campaign with a win.
Second-half goals from Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale were the only time Wales managed to find the net as they were again frustrated by group minnows Andorra.
But it mattered little to the packed Cardiff City Stadium who sang and celebrated long into the night to mark their safe passage to next summer's Euro 2016 finals in France.
' The match as it unfolded '
Belgium's win over Israel meant Wales had to settle for second place in the group, Bosnia's win over Cyprus meant they took the play-off spot, yet it mattered little to the success-starved supporters who embraced the occasion and saluted their heroes.
Ramsey's 51 minute strike at least ensured there would be no awkward send off in Wales' final competitive game until France while Bale blew a sigh of relief as he managed to grab his seventh of the campaign in the final moments.
The goal means it is 19 international goals for the Real Madrid superstar, taking him level fifth with Craig Bellamy in the all-time tally, with the former Wales captain in the crowd.
But Wales' hopes of a flying start to give such supporters a fitting send off were hit by a prolonged delay for a head injury to Andorra midfielder Victor Moreira after a nasty clash of heads with James Chester, the defender one of four changes from the side that played in Bosnia.
But the hosts still piled forward, Bale with the first meaningful shot that Ferran Pol could only parry but the ball flew away from the waiting Aaron Ramsey.
There were penalty shouts for both Jonathan Williams and David Edwards while Bale went wide from a free-kick.
But with Andorra staying compact, Wales were forced wide and found little joy with their crosses, Ramsey going closest when he looped a header that Pol had to tip onto the bar.
But, six minutes after the restart, the breakthrough came as a Bale cross found an unmarked Ashley Williams whose header was saved but the rebound buried by Ramsey.
It should have opened the flood gates Wales remained frustrated, Vokes firing over from a Chris Gunter cross in his first start since March 2014 and then failing to net from the rebound when Williams' flicked meeting of a Ramsey free-kick was parried into his path.
And they had to wait until four minutes from time before Bale swept home Ben Davies' cross, sparking the crowd into a rousing finish.
Wales: Hennessey; Gunter, Chester, Williams(Capt), Davies; Vaughan, Ramsey, J Williams(Church 85); Robson-Kanu(Edwards 23, Lawrence 46), Vokes, Bale.
Andorra: Pol; Rubio, Llovera, Lima, San Nicolas; Moreira(Riera 12), Vieira, Sonjee(Capt, Ayala 70), Rodrigues; Sanchez, Lorenzo(Garcia 81).
Scorers -
Wales: Ramsey 51, Bale 86
13 OCT 2015
BY CHRIS WATHAN
Belgium's win over Israel meant Wales had to settle for second place in the group, yet it mattered little to the success-starved supporters
It was more about the party than the performance but at least Wales ended a historic qualifying campaign with a win.
Second-half goals from Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale were the only time Wales managed to find the net as they were again frustrated by group minnows Andorra.
But it mattered little to the packed Cardiff City Stadium who sang and celebrated long into the night to mark their safe passage to next summer's Euro 2016 finals in France.
' The match as it unfolded '
Belgium's win over Israel meant Wales had to settle for second place in the group, Bosnia's win over Cyprus meant they took the play-off spot, yet it mattered little to the success-starved supporters who embraced the occasion and saluted their heroes.
Ramsey's 51 minute strike at least ensured there would be no awkward send off in Wales' final competitive game until France while Bale blew a sigh of relief as he managed to grab his seventh of the campaign in the final moments.
The goal means it is 19 international goals for the Real Madrid superstar, taking him level fifth with Craig Bellamy in the all-time tally, with the former Wales captain in the crowd.
But Wales' hopes of a flying start to give such supporters a fitting send off were hit by a prolonged delay for a head injury to Andorra midfielder Victor Moreira after a nasty clash of heads with James Chester, the defender one of four changes from the side that played in Bosnia.
But the hosts still piled forward, Bale with the first meaningful shot that Ferran Pol could only parry but the ball flew away from the waiting Aaron Ramsey.
There were penalty shouts for both Jonathan Williams and David Edwards while Bale went wide from a free-kick.
But with Andorra staying compact, Wales were forced wide and found little joy with their crosses, Ramsey going closest when he looped a header that Pol had to tip onto the bar.
But, six minutes after the restart, the breakthrough came as a Bale cross found an unmarked Ashley Williams whose header was saved but the rebound buried by Ramsey.
It should have opened the flood gates Wales remained frustrated, Vokes firing over from a Chris Gunter cross in his first start since March 2014 and then failing to net from the rebound when Williams' flicked meeting of a Ramsey free-kick was parried into his path.
And they had to wait until four minutes from time before Bale swept home Ben Davies' cross, sparking the crowd into a rousing finish.
Wales: Hennessey; Gunter, Chester, Williams(Capt), Davies; Vaughan, Ramsey, J Williams(Church 85); Robson-Kanu(Edwards 23, Lawrence 46), Vokes, Bale.
Andorra: Pol; Rubio, Llovera, Lima, San Nicolas; Moreira(Riera 12), Vieira, Sonjee(Capt, Ayala 70), Rodrigues; Sanchez, Lorenzo(Garcia 81).
Scorers -
Wales: Ramsey 51, Bale 86
Re: ' Chris Coleman's men sign off for France '
Tue Oct 13, 2015 9:47 pm
Poor score really. No pressure on us tonight, already qualified, playing against a pub team at home on a great playing surface, we should have taken the piss and scored for fun.
Re: ' Chris Coleman's men sign off for France '
Tue Oct 13, 2015 10:05 pm
Euro 2016 Qualifying - Group B at Cardiff City Stadium
Date: 13/10/2015
Wales
Aaron Ramsey 50
Gareth Bale 86
2 -0
Andorra
October 13 2015
Wales finished their memorable Euro 2016 campaign on a winning note as Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale crowned a Cardiff party with second-half goals against Andorra.
Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey scored the goals for Wales
The 2-0 victory was not enough for Wales to win Group B as Belgium took top spot by beating Israel in Brussels.
But that will not matter to Welsh fans who had turned up in their thousands in a sell-out Cardiff City Stadium crowd to mark the nation reaching its first major tournament since the 1958 World Cup.
The party atmosphere was understandable as Wales have not qualified for anything since the days of John Charles and Ivor Allchurch.
There have been so many painful near misses over the years that fans wondered whether their team would ever make it, but they will take their place in France next summer with pride.
The long wait ended on Saturday and this night was more about the occasion than the result, Wales supporters staying behind after the final whistle to salute their heroes back on to the pitch.
The campaign finished as it had started against Andorra; the tiny Pyrenees principality where Bale's late free-kick had rescued three precious points for Wales 13 months ago.
Andorra knew defeat in Cardiff would signal a 50th straight defeat in this competition, but this was Wales' night and how the fans partied.
Their wish for an early goal almost arrived when Bale warmed the palms of goalkeeper Ferran Pol and Jonathan Williams cursed his misfortune when the referee waved away penalty claims after he had been bundled over by Jordi Rubio.
Hal Robson-Kanu was forced off after turning an ankle and Max Llovera almost put through his own goal when he diverted Ben Davies' cross, Pol saving acrobatically.
The Andorra goalkeeper was displaying the knack of being in the right place at the right time and he held on to another Bale free-kick on his own line before Vokes directed a header straight at him.
Pressure was starting to mount on the Andorra goal but the visitors were belying their lowly position of 205 of 209 in the world rankings by protecting their goal well.
Bale was being kept at arm's length and Ramsey's header looped on to the bar with Pol possibly getting the faintest of touches.
Tom Lawrence came on for his Wales debut at the start of the second half, replacing the substitute David Edwards, and the young winger showed up well to get Chris Coleman's side straight on the front foot again.
Then five minutes after the re-start came the goal all Wales had craved.
Bale worked himself into space down the right to deliver a cross towards the unmarked Ashley Williams and, when Pol pushed his header out, the ball fell kindly to Ramsey, who finished from close range with his weaker left foot.
It was the Arsenal playmaker's 10th goal for his country, and his first of the season, and he almost had another when fed by the impressive Lawrence and sending his shot within inches of the upright.
Bale's dangerous free-kick was nearly touched home by Ashley Williams and then Sam Vokes and Lawrence tested Pol in the closing stages.
Wales were finishing with a flourish and Bale's seventh goal of this Euro 2016 campaign, and his 19th for his country, came four minutes from time when Davies crossed and his shot had enough power to beat Pol.
Date: 13/10/2015
Wales
Aaron Ramsey 50
Gareth Bale 86
2 -0
Andorra
October 13 2015
Wales finished their memorable Euro 2016 campaign on a winning note as Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale crowned a Cardiff party with second-half goals against Andorra.
Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey scored the goals for Wales
The 2-0 victory was not enough for Wales to win Group B as Belgium took top spot by beating Israel in Brussels.
But that will not matter to Welsh fans who had turned up in their thousands in a sell-out Cardiff City Stadium crowd to mark the nation reaching its first major tournament since the 1958 World Cup.
The party atmosphere was understandable as Wales have not qualified for anything since the days of John Charles and Ivor Allchurch.
There have been so many painful near misses over the years that fans wondered whether their team would ever make it, but they will take their place in France next summer with pride.
The long wait ended on Saturday and this night was more about the occasion than the result, Wales supporters staying behind after the final whistle to salute their heroes back on to the pitch.
The campaign finished as it had started against Andorra; the tiny Pyrenees principality where Bale's late free-kick had rescued three precious points for Wales 13 months ago.
Andorra knew defeat in Cardiff would signal a 50th straight defeat in this competition, but this was Wales' night and how the fans partied.
Their wish for an early goal almost arrived when Bale warmed the palms of goalkeeper Ferran Pol and Jonathan Williams cursed his misfortune when the referee waved away penalty claims after he had been bundled over by Jordi Rubio.
Hal Robson-Kanu was forced off after turning an ankle and Max Llovera almost put through his own goal when he diverted Ben Davies' cross, Pol saving acrobatically.
The Andorra goalkeeper was displaying the knack of being in the right place at the right time and he held on to another Bale free-kick on his own line before Vokes directed a header straight at him.
Pressure was starting to mount on the Andorra goal but the visitors were belying their lowly position of 205 of 209 in the world rankings by protecting their goal well.
Bale was being kept at arm's length and Ramsey's header looped on to the bar with Pol possibly getting the faintest of touches.
Tom Lawrence came on for his Wales debut at the start of the second half, replacing the substitute David Edwards, and the young winger showed up well to get Chris Coleman's side straight on the front foot again.
Then five minutes after the re-start came the goal all Wales had craved.
Bale worked himself into space down the right to deliver a cross towards the unmarked Ashley Williams and, when Pol pushed his header out, the ball fell kindly to Ramsey, who finished from close range with his weaker left foot.
It was the Arsenal playmaker's 10th goal for his country, and his first of the season, and he almost had another when fed by the impressive Lawrence and sending his shot within inches of the upright.
Bale's dangerous free-kick was nearly touched home by Ashley Williams and then Sam Vokes and Lawrence tested Pol in the closing stages.
Wales were finishing with a flourish and Bale's seventh goal of this Euro 2016 campaign, and his 19th for his country, came four minutes from time when Davies crossed and his shot had enough power to beat Pol.