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Wales national football team
European Championship | Qualifiers
Jun 12, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
Belgium national football team

1-0

Bale (25')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Gareth Bale strike secures vital Wales victory over Belgium

Gareth Bale's strike is enough to fire Wales to a vital 1-0 victory over Belgium to move them three points clear at the top of Group B in their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign.

Wales have taken a major step towards qualifying for Euro 2016 as Gareth Bale scored the only goal of the game to fire his side to a 1-0 win over Belgium.

Wales player Gareth Bale celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the UEFA EURO Group B 2016 Qualifier between Wales and Belguim at Cardiff City stadium on June 12, 2015© Getty Images

The visitors were the first side to threaten as Radja Nainggolan picked up the ball on the edge of the box and drilled a low effort at goal, but his strike was well saved by Wayne Hennessey.

Wales took the lead in the 25th minute when Nainggolan made a horrendous mistake as his attempted backpass to Thibaut Courtois was seized upon by Bale, who slotted the ball past the keeper into the net.

Chris Coleman's side should have doubled their advantage as Hal Robson-Kanu and Aaron Ramsey combined to set up a chance for the Arsenal man, but his drive was saved by Courtois. Robson-Kanu latched on to the rebound, but he could only put his strike wide of the post.

In the second half, Belgium almost found an equaliser when Kevin De Bruyne surged forward from midfield and drilled an effort from the edge of the box, but his strike went inches past the post.

Marc Wilmots's side almost got back into the game when Eden Hazard latched on to a cross at the back post and powered a header towards the net, but Chris Gunter was on hand to divert the ball over the bar.

Toby Alderweireld should have done better with another opportunity when he rose highest in the area to head at goal from a corner, but he could only nod wide of the target.

Belgium upped the ante late in the game, but the home side held out for the win to move three points clear at the top of Group B.

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Wales player Gareth Bale celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the UEFA EURO Group B 2016 Qualifier between Wales and Belguim at Cardiff City stadium on June 12, 2015
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Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


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