Wales banish unhappy memories

Goals from Jason Koumas, Robert Earnshaw and Craig Bellamy ensured Wales got off the mark in UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying Group D at the third time of asking with victory against Cyprus.

Reversal of fortunes
The result was in stark contrast to the events of Saturday when Cyprus shocked the Republic of Ireland 5-2 and Wales fell 5-1 to Slovakia. The visitors had the first good chance, Yiannis Okkas seeing a 12th-minute effort deflected wide. At the other end Earnshaw shot just over and Bellamy, continuing to deputise for the injured Ryan Giggs as captain, set up Koumas whose effort flew across the face of goal. Konstantinos Makridis then broke through the Wales defence but could not finish his solo run, while Cyprus goalkeeper Michael Morfis saved a curling Earnshaw strike.

Quick-fire goals
Just past the half-hour it was 1-0 thanks to Koumas, who once turned down the chance to play for the nation of his Cypriot father. He got his head to a Simon Davies cross from the right, and the bounce of the ball fooled the sprawling Morfis. Five minutes later Wales doubled their lead as Bellamy was first to a through-ball and unselfishly cut back for Earnshaw to turn in.

Cyprus denied
Cyprus responded well after the break and almost immediately Efstathios Aloneftis went close on the rebound after an Okkas shot was blocked by Wales goalkeeper Lewis Price. As the visitors pressed, they left room at the back and Earnshaw make Morfis save on more than one occasion. The third goal fell to Bellamy, though, as he chipped the goalkeeper from the edge of the area in the 72nd minute. Okkas pulled one back with a similarly cool finish, but the result takes Wales, who next go to the Republic of Ireland in March, up to fourth place. Cyprus trail Wales on head-to-head record and welcome Germany on 15 November.