Real Madrid star Gareth Bale's double saved Wales's blushes as they came from 1-0 down to beat minnows Andorra 2-1 in their opening UEFA EURO 2016 qualifier on Tuesday. Andorra, who had not won in 51 competitive fixtures since beating Macedonia in October 2004, had taken a shock lead early in the qualifying Group B encounter in Andorra la Vella as Ildefons Lima converted a sixth-minute penalty after Neil Taylor pulled back Ivan Lorenzo.
It was Lima's eighth international goal and ended an Andorran goal drought in competitive matches stretching back 18 games. The Welsh found it difficult coping with the physical game of their hosts but Bale finally got them on level terms with a header in the 22nd minute.
However, if the Welsh fans thought that would ease their side's nerves and a goal glut would ensue, they were to be disappointed as they failed to convert their chances.
Bale stepped up to ensure Wales would take three points from a tough trip, as he scored with a superb free-kick to give the visitors the victory.
The hardly inauspicious start to their campaign doesn't augur well with a group consisting of FIFA World Cup™ quarter-finalists Belgium, Israel, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Cyprus, who beat the Bosnians 2-1 away on Tuesday.
Source: Fifa.com
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