Wales welcomed Iceland to the Cardiff City Stadium for an international friendly on Wednesday night.
The hosts took the lead early on through a James Collins header but Iceland hit back before the break when Ashley Williams deflected a Johann Berg Gudmundsson effort into his own net.
However, Wales took control of the game in the second half and managed to record a 3-1 victory thanks to goals from Sam Vokes and Gareth Bale.
Read below to find out how Wales eased past Lars Lagerback's side in Cardiff.
Good evening everyone. The domestic action is forced to take a break this evening as we take a closer look at the international team. Neither of these sides will be heading to the World Cup in the summer but they'll be desperate for a good display ahead of their respective qualifying campaigns later this year.
It's impossible to escape it. All eyes seem to be on one man tonight. Real Madrid star Gareth Bale is in town and it has been confirmed that he does start for Wales at the Cardiff City Stadium. Will the galactico deliver his best tonight? Full team news to follow.
WALES: Hennessey, Gunter, Williams (c), Collins, Taylor, Allen, Huws, King, Robson-Kanu, Bale, Vokes
ICELAND: Halldórsson, Sigurdsson, Gudmundsson, Sigthórsson, Sigurdsson, Finnbogason, Árnason, Gunnarsson, Bjarnason, Hallfredson, Skúlason
Bale is, of course, the eye-catching name in that Wales lineup but it's a very big night for Manchester City youngster Emyr Huws, who makes his debut for the senior side. Joe Ledley and David Vaughan miss out due to injury, while Ashley Williams recovers from illness to captain the team.
There's a few names that will look familiar in the Iceland side and it's probably fair to say that their key player this evening is Tottenham Hotspur's Gylfi Sigurdsson, who can really make the difference in the final third of the pitch for the visitors.
It's an important night for Wales tonight. They missed out on the World Cup but their attentions now turn to the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign. Due to the format change, there is increased expectancy for Wales to reach the tournament. Games like these are a good chance for players to shine.
It's certainly not going to be an easy tonight. Despite missing out on a trip to Brazil this summer, Iceland did manage to impress in their qualifying campaign under Lars Lagerback, who will certainly have an eye on a spot at Euro 2016.
PREDICTION: 10 minutes until kickoff in Cardiff, which means it's time for me to have a guess at what the score will be this evening. I'm expecting Wales to produce some good football tonight but it should be a close game. I'll go for Wales to win 2-1.
What a night for Emyr Huws. The midfielder has impressed on loan at Birmingham City from Manchester City and has won a lot of fans for his recent displays. He's just 20 and now he finds himself playing alongside Gareth Bale.
Wales are missing key players, with Ledley nursing an injury and Aaron Ramsey still sitting on the sidelines following a stunning first half of the season with Arsenal. When everyone is fit, it's an impressive Wales side. The future is bright.
The players are out in the middle now. It's not a very good crowd at the Cardiff City Stadium, unfortunately. Wales are out in white, while Iceland are sporting their trademark blue kit. Rhydian (remember him?) will sing the home national anthem.
Remember you can follow live text coverage from a number of international games this evening. We'll be bringing you quick result articles and reaction throughout the night. Almost time for the action to get underway.
We're running a little bit late in Cardiff. Rhydian's fault, I'm sure. The referee finally decides everything is in place for kickoff. Iceland will start the game.
It's a pretty cagey start to the game, with both sides struggling to keep possession in the opening couple of minutes.
Confident start from Huws, who has already enjoyed a good couple of touches in midfield and breaks up an Iceland move to receive applause from the Welsh supporters in attendance.
Gunter is forced to tuck in to make a vital interception. Very quiet opening to the match, with both sides looking fairly comfortable.
Wales are starting to settle down. They enjoy an extended spell of pressure as a number of players get involved in a promising move before Allen gives the ball away in an advanced area.
Bale has looked to drop deep early on to get involved but Lagerback has given his players clear instructions to surround him as quickly as possible. Decent defending to keep the Real Madrid winger quiet.
Sigthorsson has attempted to peel away from Williams on a couple of occasions but he's left frustrated when a cross is collected by Hennessey at the near post. Not even a hint of a chance of either side yet.
Robson-Kanu breaks away on the left but he delays his progress and eventually loses the ball just outside the box as Vokes urged the winger to deliver a cross. There does seem to be space on the flanks. Wales need to use the ball better.
GOAL! WALES 1-0 ICELAND (COLLINS)
Bale wins a free kick with a lovely piece of skill to bring the foul from Gunnarsson. The former Spurs ace whips in an inviting cross to find Collins, who glances a header past Halldorsson to give the hosts an early lead. Great start for Wales.
SHOT! Bale causes more problems as he sprints past a couple of players with apparent ease before drilling a low effort straight at Halldorsson.
Just a small opening for Sigthorsson in the box but he's forced to settle for a corner when Williams slides across to make a crucial block. Wales then clear the danger from the set piece before retrieving possession.
Iceland have looked to be positive since falling behind, with Skulason bursting forward to curl in a cross, which is collected by Hennessey. It's a good contest in Cardiff.
SAVE! Bale collects the ball 30 yards from goal an he only has one idea in his mind as he fires a swerving effort at goal. Halldorsson looks uncomfortable dealing with the movement but he manages to push the ball to safety.
Gunter looks to take advantage of the impact being made by Bale as he sprints past his teammate to provide an option in the box. However, Bale's optimistic chipped ball drifts out of lay.
SHOT! Allen is gifted some space and he advances to the edge of the box before cutting on his right and firing just over the crossbar. Not far away from the Liverpool midfielder.
More brilliance from Bale. The Iceland defenders fail to get anywhere close to robbing him of the ball as he twists and turns before picking out Robson-Kanu, who fails to find the target with a free header.
GOAL! WALES 1-1 ICELAND (WILLIAMS OG)
Iceland are level but they definitely enjoy some luck. Wales fail to deal with a threat inside the box and the ball eventually reaches Gudmundsson, who directs a weak effort which would have been easily saved by Hennessey. However, a deflection from Williams leaves the goalkeeper helpless.
It will be interesting to see how Wales respond. They've dominated possession for most of the game but have conceded from Iceland's first real chance. The visitors will surely grow in confidence from here.
Much better from Iceland. Sigthorsson lobs a ball over the Wales defence and there's a hint of an opening for Gylfi Sigurdsson, who is left frustrated by the offside flag.
Big response from the home crowd as Bale tracks Skulason to make a brilliant tackle and then beat his rival with a lovely piece of skill. The locals will want to see more of him, Robson-Kanu and Vokes.
Huws is popping up in good areas to keep the game flowing and is refusing to sit on the fringe of his team's play. Wales need a big finish to the first half. They've been knocked back by the equaliser.
Williams wins a header from a Wales corner to find defensive partner Collins, who sees a drilled effort blocked by a visiting player. Just 10 minutes left in the first half.
Bale attracts the attention of a couple of Iceland defenders and takes the opportunity to chip a ball over the top for Gunter. A good cross follows but Vokes finds it difficult to direct the ball towards goal under pressure. There's a few appeals for a penalty. No reaction from the referee.
Taylor lets a long ball pass him on the left wing and his clever turn forces Bjarnason to commit a foul. Can Wales threaten from this free kick?
Bale appears to target goal from the free kick but his effort is headed away. Wales retrieve possession and the ball is eventually fired over the crossbar by King.
Skulason, who has been impressive for the visitors, delivers an excellent cross from the left but Williams responds well to head the ball away. Iceland are finishing the first half confidently in Cardiff.
Bale pops up on the right before beating a couple of players and finding Robson-Kanu on the opposite wing. The Reading winger cuts inside to earn himself some space but he fails to hit the target with a curled effort.
HALF TIME: WALES 1-1 ICELAND
No time added on in Cardiff as both teams head inside on level terms. Cardiff started the match very impressively and deserved to be ahead following a header from Collins. However, they failed to remain on top and Iceland grew in confidence before hitting back when Gudmundsson's effort was deflected in by Williams.
All eyes were on Bale before the game and he's certainly putting on a show for the home crowd. He's been the most dangerous player on the pitch but it will be interesting to see whether he will play a full game. If he doesn't, who will step up for Wales?
Lars Lagerback will be pretty happy with his side at the break. They started slowly but progressed as the first half progressed and looked in a good position when the referee blew the half time whistle. The changes are certain to arrive soon, so it will be interesting to see if the game can still flow.
Chris Coleman will be expecting a fast start to the second half from his side. Wales have threatened most when they've moved the ball to wide areas and attacked at pace with Bale and Robson-Kanu. Vokes hasn't had the best of the nights and I just wonder whether Bale might be moved to play in a more central role.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Collins is reportedly struggling with a calf problem and is replaced by Danny Gabbidon. Ragnar Sigurdsson and Finnbogason make way for Ottesen and Bjarnason as Lagerback makes changes too.
SHOT! Good start to the second half from Wales. They move the ball about quickly and Bale wins a free kick after dancing past a couple of frustrated Iceland defenders. Bale tries his luck from 30 yards but the ball doesn't dip enough to hit the target.
Birkir Bjarnason joined the match to make life even more difficult for commentators but he does better than Teddy Bjarnason did earlier in the game as he watches the ball closely to dispossess Bale just outside the box. Iceland don't make it easy.
Huws has been very, very impressive tonight. The young midfielder, making his senior debut, has not looked out of place and has barely put a foot wrong in the engine room. A promising start to life in the Wales team.
Stunning stuff from Bale as he somehow manages to use his skill to drift past two Iceland defenders and delight the home crowd once again. Exhibition football from the galactico.
SHOT! Robson-Kanu uses a run from Taylor as a decoy before cutting inside and just missing the target with a low shot off the outside of his left foot. Brilliant effort. Not far away from a second Wales goal.
Great work from Allen to start a move from deep and pick out Bale, who cuts in off the left to strike a deflected effort wide for a corner.
Dreadful corner from Allen but Wales manage to keep possession. A Bale cross is delivered to the back post, where Williams fails to find a teammate with a header back across goal.
SHOT! Bale beats his man in the box but his poke across goal is blocked by an Icelandic defender. The ball breaks loose to Huws, who fires over from the edge of the box. It could have been a dream moment for the youngster.
Robson-Kanu loses his marker superbly in midfield to begin another attack for his side. He finds Bale, who runs down the wrong alley inside the box and the move breaks down.
Hennessey comes off his line in an attempt to collect a cross but he collides with Ottesen. No foul given by the referee but Wales manage to clear the danger.
GOAL! WALES 2-1 ICELAND (VOKES)
The magic comes from Bale once again as he dances his way into the box before firing an effort at goal, which is somehow cleared off the line. Vokes reacts quickest and his impressive season comes on as he nods his team ahead from close range.
SUBSTITUTION: Sam Ricketts comes off the bench to replace Williams, who is given a rest by Coleman.
Wales have been rewarded for a great start to the second half. Iceland have been second-best to most things since the interval and Bale's brilliance finally made the difference again. Coleman will want more goals from his side.
Wales are dominating possession, with Huws and Allen controlling proceedings in midfield. That's a midfield that still has Aaron Ramsey to welcome back when he recovers from injury. It could be a good couple of years for Wales.
GOAL! WALES 3-1 ICELAND (BALE)
Brilliant! Ottesen attempts to wrestle Bale off the pitch on the halfway line but he fails to stop the galactico from keeping the ball in play. Bale then cuts onto his right foot inside the box and fires in a third for his side. It's a superb goal from the key man for Coleman's side.
SUBSTITUTION: Bale gets a brilliant reception from the home supporters as he jogs off shortly after scoring his goal. Jonathan Williams is his replacement.
Bale has delivered exactly what we expect from him but all of the Welsh players have stepped up their game in the second half. They'll be desperate to dominate the closing stages of this match and they're doing a good job of controlling possession.
SUBSTITUTIONS: More changes as King makes way for Jack Collison, while Sigthorsson is replaced by Bjorn Sverrisson for Iceland.
Coleman is still pacing the touchline but it does feel like this game is safe now. Wales are still trying to use the full width of the pitch and are refusing to sit back.
SHOT! Robson-Kanu wins the ball and uses the space in front of him before drilling a powerful effort at Halldorsson. A corner causes plenty more problems and Gabbidon eventually hits a deflected shot over the crossbar.
Collison has seen plenty of the ball since his introduction. A lot of players are pressing their claims for a regular spot in the Wales side. Unfortunately, the Icelandic challenge has faded since the third goal.
SUBSTITUTION: Another change from Lagerback as the impressive Skulason is replaced by Kristinn Jonsson.
There's a stoppage in play when Robson-Kanu collides with Arnason in midfield. It's a foul from the Welsh winger but he's certainly been hurt more than his rival. Both are fine to continue.
SUBSTITUTION: Robson-Kanu's good shift comes to an end as Ben Davies is introduced for the final few minutes.
It's almost job done for Wales. The game has hit a quiet spell late on as Iceland look for a consolation with a number of crosses being cleared by the hosts.
SAVE! Birkir Bjarnason gets a toe on the ball inside a congested penalty area but Hennessey reacts well to make the block on the line. Three minutes of added time to be played.
YELLOW CARD! Jonsson becomes the first player to be shown a yellow card when he hauls down Williams on the halfway line.
SHOT! Teddy Bjarnason collects a loose ball on the edge of the box and drills a half volley just wide of the post. Good finish to the game from Iceland.
FULL TIME: WALES 3-1 ICELAND
It's all over in the Welsh capital. On a night when Gareth Bale delivered his best for Wales, the hosts have recorded an impressive 3-1 victory to further increase the optimism ahead of the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign later this year. Collins, Vokes and Bale with the goals as Iceland are defeated on their visit to the Cardiff City Stadium.
That's all from me tonight. I hope you've enjoyed the coverage and make sure you stick around for results and reaction from all of tonight's games.
Written by
Callum Mulvihill
Callum Mulvihill
