Wales 2-0 Andorra: Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale ensure celebrations continue after Euro 2016 qualification

• Aaron Ramsey scored the opening goal of the game to help his side end their qualification campaign with a win
• The Arsenal midfielder's goal came in the 50th minute after a lacklustre first half at the Cardiff City Stadium
• Gareth Bale doubled the score with four minutes left on the clock to round off a successful campaign
• Wales, who had already qualified for next year's tournament in France, finished behind Group B winners Belgium
• Euro 2016: Who's qualified for the finals and who will need a play-off? 
• Euro 2016: Latest qualifier news, fixtures and schedule updates

By Laurie Whitwell for the Daily Mail

Published: 15:42 EST, 13 October 2015 | Updated: 04:50 EST, 14 October 2015

A rapturous rout to enhance claims Wales can go far at Euro 2016 this was not. But the sell-out crowd who came to share the experience did not really care in the end.

They wanted to have fun, and while the scoreline against the fifth-worst side in world football was slender, there was enough cause for merriment.

Aaron Ramsey’s goal early in the second half allowed the match to end with festivity rather that friction and the bouncing dance of a celebration by the touchline in tribute to Joe Ledley’s bizarre efforts in Bosnia that went viral showed the unity of this group. 

Gareth Bale (centre) leads the celebrations after Wales qualified for a major tournament for the first time since 1958

Confetti covers Wales' players as they celebrate their hugely impressive qualifying campaign, which saw the Dragons claim 21 points

The world's most expensive player cannot hide his delight at helping his country seal a place at next summer's prestigious tournament 

Bale (fourth left) and Ramsey (third right) are among the players to spray champagne following the Group B encounter in Cardiff 

Bale (right) doubled the scoreline with just four minutes left on the clock to round off a successful qualifying campaign

Wales midfielder Ramsey jumps for joy after opening the scoring at the Cardiff City Stadium to ensure the celebrations continued

Ramsey will have another celebration when he becomes a father as wife Colleen is expecting their first child in a few weeks

MATCH FACTS

 

WALES (4-3-3): Hennessey 6; Gunter 6, A Williams 6, Chester 6, Davies 6.5; Ramsey 7, Vaughan 6, Bale 6.5; J Williams 6.5 (Church 86mins), Vokes 6, Robson-Kanu 5 (Edwards 23, 5; Lawrence 46, 6)

Subs not used: Allen, O.Williams, Ward, King, Ledley, Taylor, Henley, Collins, Richards

Goals: Ramsey 50, Bale 86 

Booked: A Williams, Vaughan

ANDORRA (4-5-1): Pol; San Nicolas, Rodrigues, Lima, Llovera, Rubio; Lorenzo (Garcia 81), Sonejee (Ayala 70), Vieira, Moreira (Riera 12); Sanchez

Subs not used: Moreno, Gomez, Gomes, Peppe

Booked: Pol, Lima, Rodrigues, Rubio, Vieira, Lorenzo, Ayala 

Referee: Kevin Blom (Holland)

Gareth Bale’s continued commitment gives manifold encouragement too. The Real Madrid star played the entirety of this meaningless match and scored with five minutes left, sweeping in from a cross by Ben Davies.

It was his seventh goal of a campaign in which has only missed three minutes of action. Quite remarkable figures.

Bale said: 'We put the hard work in for years and years and now is the time to enjoy it.

'But as soon as France comes around we want to make an impact.' 

Welsh supporters have been used to dead rubbers at the end of qualifying campaigns, but never before because qualification had been secured. Pressure off, it was time to party.

As promised, Chris Coleman changed formation and tweaked personnel, the idea being that goals would come in a 4-3-3 system. Bale started in midfield with licence to roam.

But the plan failed to work. Andorra, this tiny principality of 85,000 people, once again proved more stubborn than a sulky teenager suffering adolescence.

Despite experiencing 53 consecutive losses in competitive football to earn a ranking 205 out of 209 nations by FIFA, Andorra are doggedly obdurate.

Wales had required an 81st minute free-kick from Bale – retaken after Gabriel Riera broke the wall on the first attempt – to win the reverse fixture at the start of this campaign and the visitors’ technique of every-man-behind-the-ball frustrated Coleman’s side hugely.

Their best first-half chance came courtesy of Andorra defender Ildefons Lima, who miscued a clearing header to send his goalkeeper Ferran Pol scampering back to save acrobatically under his crossbar. 

Andorra goalkeeper Ferran Pol is unable to get his hand on the ball as Ramsey's powerful shot heads for the back of the net

Ramsey (centre) celebrates with his international team-mates after opening the scoring 10 minutes after the half-time interval

Victor Moreira is wheeled off on a stretcher in the 12th minute before being replaced by Andorra team-mate Gabi Riera

Bale seemed to grow increasingly frustrated, shooting from range, charging for a header, and even trying to score directly from two corners.

Just before the break Ramsey clipped the crossbar with a looping header from a Davies cross.

As fears of an embarrassing result on this big night began to surface, the Arsenal midfielder finally shattered Andorra’s resistance in the 50thminute.

Bale was instrumental, winning possession high up field and whipping in a cross. Ashley Williams should have scored with his header but Pol saved, only for Ramsey to slide in the rebound.

Williams was again wasteful with a glorious heading chance later on, and Tom Lawrence had a decent effort from distance before Bale did just enough with his shot to beat Pol and put a bit more respectability into proceedings.

The Welsh national anthem was sung as the clocked ticked down and the final whistle brought great cheers. The next time Wales are in competitive action the location will be France. Whatever the manner, that was the improbable dream when this campaign began. 

Wales superstar Bale (left) is stopped in his tracks as he makes a run up-field during his side's clash against Andorra

The Real Madrid forward (right) talks tactics with Wales manager Chris Coleman (left) during the Group B encounter in Cardiff

Bale (left) shares a joke with Arsenal midfielder Ramsey and Reading defender Chris Gunter before the Euro 2016 qualifier 

Coleman's side gather in a close-knit huddle as they prepare for their final competitive match before next summer's tournament in France

Reading forward Hal Robson-Kanu (pictured receiving medical treatment) was forced off through injury during the Euro 2016 qualifier

Sam Vokes attempts to get on the end of a cross as he tries to open the scoring for Wales at the Cardiff City Stadium

Ramsey wheels away in celebration after finding a way of breaking down Andorra's defensive back-line in the 50th minute

Ashley Williams failed to beat goalkeeper Pol before Ramsey placed the ball home - click HERE for more of our brilliant Match Zone

Bale (centre) is congratulated by fellow goalscorer Ramsey after making it 2-0 during the final few minutes of his side's clash

Bale (second right) receives a celebratory hug from Ramsey (far right) after rounding off the scoring at the Cardiff City Stadium

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