Wales needed two goals from star winger Gareth Bale to avoid a massive upset against Andorra, coming from behind to win 2-1 in the tiny principality to start their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign.
Cyprus did manage a shock in the other Group B game, beating Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-1 after the hosts missed a late penalty.
Wales are hoping to reach their first major tournament since 1958 after UEFA expanded the Euro 2016 field to 24 teams, but got off to a poor start when Ildefons Lima put the hosts ahead with a penalty in the sixth minute.
Photo: AFP
It was Andorra’s first goal in a competitive game for four years.
However, Wales fought back on a poor artificial pitch as Bale headed in a cross from Ben Davies in the 22nd minute. The Real Madrid star then scored the winner with a dipping free-kick in the 81st.
“To get us off to a good start is massively important for us,” Bale said. “We ourselves have expectations. We want to qualify and if we are to, we have to come to places like this and get victories.”
Photo: Reuters
Wales’ other star, Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey, limped off at the end after taking a late knock to his ankle.
Cyprus staged a similar comeback, with Dimitris Christofi scoring twice after Bosnia took the lead through Vedad Ibisevic in the sixth minute.
Bosnia, coming off their first appearance at a World Cup finals, looked headed for a routine victory until Christofi beat goalkeeper Asmir Begovic to a cross and headed in the equalizer just before halftime.
With Bosnia pushing for a winner, Cyprus struck on the counterattack, with Christofi finding himself one-on-one with Begovic and calmly slotting in the winner to stun the home fans in Zenica.
Bosnia had a chance to equalize when striker Edin Dzeko was fouled in the penalty area in the 89th minute, but Miralem Pjanic had his penalty saved by goalkeeper Antonis Giorgallides.
Belgium and Israel are also in the group, but their opening game was postponed until March next year due to the conflict in Gaza.
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