Hal Robson-Kanu & Gareth Bale got the all important goals as Wales got their first ever Euro Championships win, with goals in both halves either side of a Slovakian equaliser.
7. A huge goal for Wales from Robson-Kanu https://t.co/BdiErrOhMu
— CapgunTom (@CapgunTom) June 11, 2016
Wales looked superb from start to finish against Slovakia, and more than deserved their 2-1 victory. It was a scary start for the underdogs, with Marek Hamsik making a phenomenal run and looking certain to score; Ben Davies keeping it out of the net with a great goal line clearance. They soon found the right balance between attack and defence though, and quickly began to dictate the tempo.
Gareth Bale got Wales off to a flying start with a decent free-kick, as the keeper gambled in the wrong direction and was left in no man’s land as the ball sailed in. Wales’ job Liverpool’s could have been made easier, as Martin Skrtel should have been sent off once or twice throughout the game. A nasty elbow in the box on Jonny Williams right in front of the fourth official was unquestionably a red and a penalty, and a nasty sliding tackle on Ben Davies late on in the game could have seen him given his marching orders again.
Second half substitute Ondrej Duda threatened to end Wales’ fairytale with a well taken goal, Wales falling asleep for a moment and defending far too laxly. Everyone was drawn to the ball leaving far too much space to run into, and they were punished for it with almost Duda’s first touch of the game.
Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey then found some space of his own down the other end though, making a great run into the box. He dinked the ball through to Wales substitute Hal Robson-Kanu, who squeezed it under the defender and past the goalkeeper.
SEE MORE:
Arsenal transfer news
It was a phenomenal finish to a superb game, and a well deserved three points for Wales.
How far can they go in the Euros this summer?