Wales beat Belgium to step closer to Euro 2016 football championships

Striker Gareth Bale celebrated his 50th cap for Wales with the winning goal that took his country to the top of their qualifying group for next year's European championships in France. Bale, 25, was on target against Belgium in the 25th minute following a defensive blunder from Radja Nainggolan. 

Gareth Bale scored on his 50th appearance for Wales Reuters/Rebecca Naden

His header went back into the penalty area towards his goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois but Bale intercepted the ball on his chest, brought it down and shot past the advancing Courtois.

It was the calm and collected finish of a striker costing 80 million euros. Real Madrid's fans may have doubts about the value of the Cardiff-born striker. But to his Welsh brethren, the boy Gareth is priceless.

The goal sent the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff into a frenzy.

Wales now head Group B with 14 points after six of their 10 games. Belgium are second with 11 points. Israel and Cyprus both have nine.

With the top two from the nine group qualifying groups advancing automatically as well as the five best third-placed teams, Wales have a good chance of progressing to their first major tournament since the 1958 World Cup.

"It's hard to put it into words," Bale told Sky Sports after the game. "We prepared well, played some good football and battled in every area. The manager said to leave nothing out there on the pitch and we did that. Now we can enjoy our summer.

 "We know the position we're in and we'll enjoy this [Friday] evening. There's a long way to go, but when the next game comes along we'll be ready to do the business."

Wales's qualification campaign resumes in September, when they visit Cyprus before hosting Israel.

"The stadium was bouncing from the warm-up," added Wales captain Ashley Williams, who organised a defence that neutralised Belgium's much-lauded attack of Christian Benteke, Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne.

"When you work that hard, you've got to enjoy these moments," said Williams. "I said to the players at the end that we need to stay focused and we've given ourselves a great chance of qualification."

Williams was effectively echoing his manager Chris Coleman whose reign as the Wales boss started inauspiciously.

The 45-year-old took over in January 2012 and began with a record four consecutive defeats. There were nine losses in all from the first 13 games.

However, in the last 10 Wales have won five, drawn four and lost once.

Wales have now taken four points off Belgium, who are ranked as the second-best team in world football. It would require a run of results eclipsing the disastrous beginning of his time as coach to deny Coleman’s side a place in next summer’s finals.

Bale was substituted two minutes from time to a standing ovation.

“We had to take him off because he had nothing left," said Coleman. "He’s desperate to succeed with Wales. It was 50 caps for him and it was a great way to mark it with a goal, an ice-cold finish, and someone with that talent has got to be at a major finals.”

Following the victory, Bale posted pictures on Twitter, one of him celebrating his goal, the other showing him alongside six of his team-mates in the changing room after the match.

"Unbelievable result!!" he wrote. "Huge thanks to all the fans for making it such a special night. Can't wait for the next 50 caps.

"Not going to forget tonight!"

And neither will the fans should Wales go on to qualify. And that prospect was facilitated by results elsewhere in the group. Cyprus, as expected, won at bottom of the table Andorra. Nestoras Mitidis claimed a hat-trick in the 3-1 victory after Dossa Junior had put through his own goal to give Andorra a shock lead after two minutes.

Israel couldn't capitalise on Tal Ben Haim's opener in Bosnia Herzegovina. Edin Visca levelled before Edin Dzeko put the hosts in front on the stroke of half-time. Visca's second of the game 15 minutes from time, sealed the points for Bosnia Herzegovina for a second consecutive win which relaunches their Group B campaign.