Bale nets hat-trick as Wales smash sorry China 6-0 - Capital Sports
Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Features

Bale nets hat-trick as Wales smash sorry China 6-0

Gareth Bale (R) of Wales steps away from Huang Bowen of China during their China Cup International Football Championship semi-final in Nanning in China’s southern Guangxi region on March 22, 2018 © AFP

NANNING, China, Mar 22 – Ryan Giggs’ first game as Wales coach got off to a flying start Thursday with a 6-0 demolition of China as Gareth Bale scored a hat-trick.

The Real Madrid forward scored his 29th international goal for his country to become the highest scoring Welsh player of all time, breaking Ian Rush’s record.

Wales wasted no time asserting their dominance when Bale held off China defender Wang Shencao to place a shot into top left corner of the net after just two minutes.

It was one-way-traffic during a match between two teams which both failed to qualify for this summer’s World Cup in Russia.

Bale almost got a second in the 17th minute as he chased a ball forward, but Shanghai SIPG goalkeeper Yan Junling sprinted off his line to clear the ball.

It seemed a only matter of time before Wales scored again and in the 21st minute Sam Vokes capitalised on defensive sloppiness to put through Bale to score his second of the night.

Wales continued to enjoy complete control and scored their third when Vokes flicked Andy King’s knockdown past the outstretched fingers of Yan into the goal.

And just before half time Bale laid a pass into the path of Liverpool winger Harry Wilson who celebrated his 21st birthday by scoring his first international goal.

China rang the changes with a raft of substitutions at half time but Wales came out unchanged after the interval and continued to dominate their hosts.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Burnley striker Vokes grabbed his second in the 58th minute with a close range finish after Wilson had sprung the offside trap to put him through on goal.

Bale sealed his hat-trick in the 62nd minute after latching on to a long ball forward. He was promptly substituted before the restart and left the pitch to rapturous applause from the Chinese fans.

The four-team China Cup in Nanning sees Czech Republic play Uruguay, tomorrow night. The winners play Wales in the final next Monday.

Speaking after the match, China coach Marcelo Lippi said, “I don’t want to talk about the attack and defence today, I want to talk about the players attitude and performance.

“I will be 70 in a month’s time. I’m still active in this role because of my passion for football, if the players I picked didn’t show the same passion then that is my failure.”

Advertisement

More on Capital Sports

Football

NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 27 – DStv and GOtv subscribers are in for a treat of the world’s best football this week as the 2020-21...

Football

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 25 – There is light at the end of the tunnel. After failed promises over the last three years since its...

Football

NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 6 – Gentrix Shikangwa scored with two minutes left as Vihiga Queens sailed to the final of the CECAFA regional qualifiers...

NFL

NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 13 – Kenya’s history making Daniel Adongo, the first Kenyan to play in America’s National Football League (NFL), is now living...

© 2024 Capital Digital Media. Capital Group Limited. All Rights Reserved