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Wales national football team
European Championship | Qualifiers
Oct 13, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
Andorra national football team

2-0

Ramsey (50'), Bale (86')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Live Commentary: Wales 2-0 Andorra - as it happened

Relive Wales' 2-0 victory over Andorra with Sports Mole live text commentary.
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Wales capped off their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign with a 2-0 win over Andorra in Cardiff.

Second-half goals from Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale saw off the Group B minnows in a match that was essentially meaningless, with Chris Coleman's side having already secured their place in the finals ahead of kickoff.

Find out how all the action unfolded with our minute-by-minute text commentary below.


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Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Euro 2016 qualifier between Wales and Andorra in Cardiff. There's a party atmosphere in the Welsh capital this evening, with Chris Coleman's side already having booked their place in France.

Booking a place in the finals of the major tournament for the first time in 58 years is a remarkable achievement, and Wales could even do it as Group B winners if they manage to see off tonight's opposition. Their final placing in the group depends on the result of the match between Belgium and Israel. Anything less than a win for Belgium will see them drop below the Welsh into second place if Coleman's men beat Andorra.

Team news incoming...

WALES: Hennessey; Gunter, A Williams, Chester, B Davies; Vaughan, J. Williams, Ramsey; Bale, Vokes, Robson-Kanu

ANDORRA: Ferran Pol, San Nicolas, Sonejee, Llovera, Ildefons Lima, Rodrigues, Rubio, Vieira, Moreira, Lorenzo

Wales line up in a 4-3-3 formation this evening and Coleman has made four changes from the side that lost to Bosnia last time out. There are starts for James Chester, David Vaughan, Jonny Williams and Sam Vokes, while Neil Taylor, Jazz Richards, Joe Ledley and Joe Allen drop out.

It's an attacking lineup, with Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey assigned key roles. Either one of those is a fair shout for first goalscorer this evening, if you're the kind of person who enjoys a cheeky bet.

The Welsh FA just made a terrible pun on their official Twitter feed, but given how exciting an evening this is for Wales, we'll let them off.

There really is a buzz around the country due to the national team's success. Even the Welsh government has taken to social media to congratulate them on their achievement.

Although Wales are the clear favourites to take three points this evening, Andorra caused Coleman's side a few problems when they met earlier in the campaign. Ildefons Lima fired the minnows in front from the penalty spot early in the match, leaving it to Bale to come to his side's rescue with a brace.

That said, Koldo's side have not taken a single point during their qualification campaign and have let in 34 goals during the course of it. They say there are no easy games in international football, but from a Welsh perspective, three points is pretty much expected.

PREDICTION: Wales are worthy of their favourites tag based on how they have performed of late, but I'm not expecting a walk in the park. Andorra will be desperate to put a point on the board, having lost all nine of their previous Group B matches, so I'm going for a 2-0 win for the hosts.

Wales boss Chris Coleman had this to say ahead of kickoff: "There's going to be a full house, the atmosphere will be electric and we don't want it to be a damp squib, we want to finish well."

Wales national team manager Chris Coleman looks on during the International Friendly match between Wales v Ireland at the Cardiff City Stadium on August 14, 2013© Getty Images


And here's a pre-match quote from Welsh defender Ashley Williams: "I said at the start of the campaign that it would be the proudest moment of my career if we could qualify and it is. The Andorra game is going to be a nice game for us now. We can celebrate and hopefully we can win the game and have a nice night after it."

Wales and Andorra have met only once before tonight, that 2-1 win for Coleman's side last September. Andorra's penalty in that match was their first goal in 18 competitive games, a run that dated back to 2010. They've also lost all 49 of their European Championship games.

Ahead of tonight's match, there's been talk of Coleman extending his contract, which expires after the Euro 2016 finals. The former Fulham coach is already talking about their preparations for the 2018 World Cup. You can read what he had to say here.

There's a jubilant atmosphere here in Cardiff. It's a full house at the Cardiff City Stadium and the ground is rocking.



The national anthems are underway. Andorra's sounds like a bizarre remix of God Save the Queen.



KICKOFF: Andorra get the match under way, kicking from right to left in the first half.

Wales are showing a few nerves here, giving away an early corner and a couple of free kicks. James Chester is the latest Welshman to commit a foul, bringing down Andorra's Victor Moreira inside his own half. Play is halted while the latter receives treatment on the pitch.

SUBSTITUTION: And Chester's challenge has brought Moreira's evening to a premature end. He will be stretchered off and Gabi Riera is his replacement. Let's hope that injury isn't too serious.

Play has not yet restarted here in Cardiff, so here are a few stats to chew on while we wait for Andorra's medical team to leave the pitch.



This one really puts Andorra's plight into perspective...



Worrying times for Andorra. An ambulance is on hand outside of the ground to take Moreira to hospital. His medical staff are now moving him on a stretcher and the home fans are showing their respect with a round of applause as he leaves the park.

We're back under way now and Wales attempt a swift break, threading the ball through to Hal Robson-Kanu in the final third, but the Reading man overruns it, and it goes out for an Andorra throw.

SHOT! Gareth Bale collects a pass from Aaron Ramsey and surges into the box, getting a left-footed strike away from a tight angle and forcing a good save out of Ferran Pol. Jonathan Williams is felled in the area moments later - it looked like a clear penalty, but the referee was quick to wave away the protests.

SHOT! Bale draws a foul from Ildefons Lima 20 yards from goal. The Andorra defender is booked and the Real Madrid star steps up to take the kick himself, shooting narrowly wide. Pol would have been well beaten if that had been on target!

Half-chance for Wales as Chris Gunter cuts inside and lets fly. His effort takes a deflection on its way towards goal, but Pol claims it without too much trouble.

SUBSTITUTION: Now Wales are forced into a change as Robson-Kanu goes down injured and Dave Edwards is thrown on in his place. No doubt Reading fans will be nervous round about now.

CHANCE! Ramsey charges along the left flank and plays a cross towards Sam Vokes at the far post. The Burnley man heads the ball on and Edwards almost nods it over the line, but his marker beats him to it and heads clear.

Wales are seeing plenty of the ball, as we knew they would, but they're struggling to break Andorra down at the moment. They need a goal to settle them down.

CLOSE! Davies plays a long, searching ball towards the Andorra goal and Max Llovera attempts to head it back towards his goalkeeper, but puts far too much on it! Pol is forced to tip the ball over to prevent Llovera from scoring a howler of an own goal!

BOOKING! Crunching tackles are flying in left and right now. David Vaughan becomes the first Welshman to go into the book for going in late on Moreira. He was rash and can have no complaints there.

Sam Vokes chases a lost cause and eventually draws a foul out of Marcio Vieira in what is very much Gareth Bale territory. The former Tottenham Hotspur man steps up and curls a strike over the wall, but it's straight at Pol.

Another half chance for the Welsh as Vaughan powers forward and plays a lofted pass towards Vokes in the box. The Burnley man flicks a header towards goal, but it's nothing more than another easy catch for Pol.

Bale and Volkes are getting plenty of service up front, but Andorra are throwing bodies back and frustrating the hosts. It's very much looking like a case of when we will see a Welsh goal, rather than if, though.

As things stand, Wales are heading to France as Group B runners-up. Belgium and Israel is tied at 0-0, but the Dragons need a goal here to stand any chance of unseating the group leaders.

Bale cruises past his marker along the left wing and plays a menacing ball into the Andorra box. It causes havoc in there before falling to Williams, whose strike is closer to hitting the corner flag than the back of the net. A poor effort.

CHANCE! A glancing header from Ramsey almost breaks the deadlock on the stroke of half time. The Arsenal man gets his head to a long ball and his effort threatens to dip beneath the crossbar. Pol tips the ball over with his fingertips.

We're into the first of eight added minutes now, and Ben Davies has just tried his luck, almost smashing an effort into the top corner from range. The Andorra defence is looking increasingly creaky now.

Wales look determined to head into the break with the lead. Bale dances into the area and gets a shot away, but puts it into the stand under pressure from his marker.

Belgium vs Israel is tied at 0-0 at half time. If that stays the same, Wales would move level on points with the leaders and take top spot if they beat Andorra by virtue of their superior head-to-head record against Belgium.

HALF TIME: Wales 0-0 Andorra

Plenty of chances for Wales but no goals here in Cardiff as Andorra are holding them 0-0 at the break. It's been a frustrating first half for the hosts, but they're going to France regardless of what happens in the second half.

Wales had a whopping 15 shots in that first half. Only two sides have ever had that many without scoring in a Euro 2016 qualifier.



If you've just joined us, you can get yourself up to speed on the goalless first period with our half-time report here.

INJURY UPDATE: Victor Moreira looked in a bad way after going down injured early in the game, but there's positive news about that as the midfielder did not require hospital treatment as feared. He's up and talking, which is always a good sign.

Moving away from Group B for a moment, there's a major story brewing in Group A, where the Netherlands are at risk of missing out on a place at the finals. They're losing 2-0 at home to the Czech Republic in a match they must win to stand any chance of reaching the playoffs. You can follow that game here.

KICKOFF: Wales get the second half under way. They've made a change at the break, throwing on Tom Lawrence for his international debut. He replaces Edwards.

Wales break quickly. It's a good move that ends in a corner as Williams's cross is deflected behind. Directly from the corner, Williams finds the head of Bale in front of goal, but the Real Madrid man heads too high.

Wales 1-0 Andorra (Aaron Ramsey)

Wales finally have the breakthrough and it comes from an Aaron Ramsey tap-in. Gareth Bale plays a dangerous cross to an unmarked Ashley Williams in front of goal, but the Welsh skipper's header is straight at the goalkeeper. Pol can only parry the ball and Ramsey is on hand to scramble it over the line.

The Cardiff City Stadium is rocking now! Here's the moment Ramsey fired the hosts in front:



BOOKINGS! Tensions are boiling over here as Marcio Vieira goes into the book for a bad foul. Jesus Rubio decides to get involved in the off-the-ball scuffle that follows and earns himself a yellow as well.

CLOSE! Great footwork and awareness from Ramsey almost results in Wales' second. He ghosts past three defenders and lets fly, but his low effort ends up narrowly wide, nicking the far post on its way behind.

Wales have started the second half as they ended the first - on the front foot and permanently in the Andorra half. With Bale and Ramsey a constant threat, a second goal for the Dragons is surely only a matter of time.

BOOKING! Andorra goalkeeper Ferran Pol goes into the book for time wasting. There's been a lot of that from Andorra tonight, but I'm not sure what Pol was hoping to achieve now that his side are trailing.

SUBSTITUTION: Andorra make a change as Ayala comes on for Sonejee. The latter has just make his final appearance for his country. He earned 94 caps for them - not too shabby, even though the vast majority of them were heavy defeats.

Wales have lost some of their momentum now. They are sitting back and holding possession, looking somewhat complacent. Vokes has just smashed an effort over the bar from the edge of the box, losing his bottle under pressure from a defender.

CHANCE! Wales earn another shooting opportunity from a free kick as Jonny Williams draws a foul on the edge of the box. You'd expect Bale to hit the target from there, but he blazes his effort over the bar.

UPDATE: Wales are going to France, but it doesn't look like that will be as Group B winners since Belgium are now 2-0 up against Israel. That will keep them in top spot with Wales in second and Bosnia securing a playoff place in third.

SUBSTITUTION: Another change for Andorra as Garcia comes on for Lorenzo for the final nine minutes. Josep Ayala goes into the book for a late challenge seconds after play restarts.

CHANCE! Another chance for Wales to add a second goes begging as Ben Davies plays a cross into the centre of the box and Ramsey rises high to meet it, only to head straight at a grateful Pol.

GOAL! Wales 2-0 Andorra (Gareth Bale)

Bale adds some respectability to the scoreline by tucking the ball into the bottom corner from inside the box. Aaron Ramsey lined up the Real Madrid man, who took it on the turn after being given too much space inside the area. The Cardiff City Stadium explodes!

There will be two minutes of added time to play.

FULL TIME: Wales 2-0 Andorra

Wales bring the curtain down on a historic qualifying campaign with a 2-0 win over Andorra. They're going to Euro 2016 as Group B runners-up - their first major tournament for 58 years. Let the party commence!

That's all we have time for in a jubilant Cardiff, but stick with Sports Mole for match analysis, player ratings and reaction from tonight's game. You can check out our full-time report from the match here. Many thanks for reading!

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Players of Wales national team celebrate the Euro 2016 qualifying football match between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Wales at the Stadium Bilino Polje in Elbasan on October 10, 2015.
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