Euro 2016 Qualifiers: Bale shines for Wales as Italy, Netherlands scrape draws

Real winger scores a spectacular brace to down Israel 3-0

PARIS: Real Madrid winger Bale scored a second-half brace in Euro 2016 qualifying as Wales cruised to a 3-0 win in Israel that put them top of Group B.

Israel came into the game in Haifa in first place having won their opening three qualifiers, but Bale set up Aaron Ramsey to give the visitors the lead late in the first half.

Bale doubled their advantage shortly after the restart from an exquisite free-kick before forcing the sending-off of Israel defender Eytan Tibi and then making it 3-0 on 77 minutes.

Chris Coleman's side have won three and drawn two of five matches in Group B and lead the way with 11 points, two ahead of Israel.

"To come out on top is amazing,” said Bale. “The first half was very hard. We did a lot of running, closed them down well, and luckily got the goal which gave us a lot of confidence. We came out in the second half buzzing and showed what a good team we are."

 

Oranje saved from humiliation

The Netherlands needed a late equaliser to earn a 1-1 draw in their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign on Saturday.

The Dutch were heading to a first competitive defeat on home soil since October 2000 after Burak Yilmaz put Turkey ahead in Amsterdam, but a 92nd-minute shot by captain Wesley Sneijder deflected into the net off Klaas-Jan Huntelaar to spare Oranje blushes and secure a 1-1 draw.

A defeat might have made Dutch coach Guus Hiddink's position untenable, and even the draw leaves last year's World Cup semi-finalists in third place in qualifying Group A, five points behind second-placed Iceland and two points ahead of Turkey.

"It wasn't a bad match, but not our best either," said Hiddink. "A defeat would have been catastrophic but the [equalizing] goal keeps us in the running."

 

Italy remain unbeaten in Group H

Antonio Conte's Italy are in a rather more comfortable position than the Netherlands and remain unbeaten in Group H after coming back to draw 2-2 with Bulgaria in Sofia.

Yordan Minev's early own goal gave the Azzurri the lead, but Ivelin Popov and Ilian Micanski both scored for Bulgaria to turn the game on its head.

The hosts looked to be heading for a win in Ivaylo Petev's first game as coach but Brazilian-born debutant Eder came off the bench to save a point for Italy with a fine strike with six minutes left.

"It's an amazing feeling," said Eder. "Conte had faith in me and I've scored a goal wearing an important jersey. I hope I'll go on to be given other chances."
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