Euro rookie Welsh makes history to enter knock-out stage

2016-06-21 09:06

By (Xinhua)

Euro rookie Welsh makes history to enter knock-out stage

Gareth Bale (L) of Wales scores the 3-0 lead against Russia's goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev (C-R) during the UEFA EURO 2016 group B preliminary round match between Russia and Wales at Stade Municipal in Toulouse, France, June 20, 2016.[Photo/IC]

Aaron Ramsey gifted Wales a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute when Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen threaded a wonderful pass through the middle for the Arsenal midfielder who evaded the offside trap and lifted the ball over the advancing Russian keeper Igor Akinfeev.

Left-back Neil Taylor doubled the lead after 20 minutes when Real Madrid star Gareth Bale found Taylor in the open. Bale sent a pinpoint pass to make Taylor one-on-one with Akinfeev. Taylor's close-range shot was incredibly denied by Akinfeev but the Swansea defender poked the rebound into the empty net.

It was the first international goal for the 27-year-old Taylor.

Bale, the most shinning player in the game, sealed the win at 3-0 in the 67th minute when he got a through pass from Ramsey and beat Akinfeev with a deft finish.

Bale played a leading role in Wales' attacking with his wonderful dribbling, timely passes and powerful shots.

Bale also became the first player scoring three times in the tournament, followed by five two-goal scorers -- Russian Denis Glushakov, Romanian Bogdan Stancu, French Dimitri Payet, Spaniard Alvaro Morata and Belgian Romelu Lukaku.