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Andorra national football team
European Championship | Qualifiers
Sep 9, 2014 at 7.45pm UK
 
Wales national football team

1-2

Lima (6' pen.)
FT(HT: 1-1)
Bale (22', 81')

Chris Coleman happy with "great start" to Euro 2016 qualifying campaign

Wales boss Chris Coleman describes his side's narrow 2-1 victory over Andorra this evening as a "great start" to their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign.

Wales manager Chris Coleman has insisted that his side's victory over Andorra this evening is a "great start" to their qualifying campaign for Euro 2016.

Gareth Bale emerged as the saviour for his side, scoring twice as Wales were forced to come from behind to avoid a major shock and open their Group B campaign with a 2-1 win.

The visitors were expected to run out more comfortable victors against a side that have not won a match for almost a decade, but Coleman revealed that he never felt it would be easy, particularly on Andorra's controversial 3G pitch.

"We have a lot of fans here in our hotel and before the game they were saying that they wanted at least three goals - but we knew it would not be easy," he told Sky Sports News.

"Andorra's record here is not good but they are a fighting nation and I have seen the Netherlands struggle here. I can say it now but when we arrived and saw the state of the pitch my heart sank. It shouldn't be allowed at this level, but we got the three points and everyone else has got to come here and play. It's a great start for us.

"There were half a dozen challenges that weren't very good. The referee should have clamped down but he let it go and we are a bit disappointed with that - we had a bit to contend with tonight."

Andorra's sixth-minute penalty was their first goal in a competitive match for four years and also saw them take the lead in a European Championship qualifier for the first time ever.

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Wales forward Gareth Bale (C) celebrates with teammates forward Simon Church (R) and defender Lewin Nyatanga after scoring a goal during the Euro 2016 qualifying round match against Andorra on September 9, 2014
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Match Analysis: Andorra 1-2 Wales
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