Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 5 Num 878 Thu. November 16, 2006  
   
Sports


Wales thrash Liechtenstein


Jason Koumas' sparkling double and Craig Bellamy's guidance helped Wales to a 4-0 friendly win over Lichentenstein here on Tuesday.

Koumas, who was among the scorers in Wales' 3-1 win over Cyprus in last month's Euro 2008 qualifier, put John Toshack's side ahead with two long range strikes in the opening quarter of an hour.

Then the tireless Bellamy and his boyhood pal Chris Llewellyn wrapped up a good night's work late on.

Toshack said: "We can be pleased. We scored four goals which is always pleasing and they were good quality goals as well.

"Maybe at the back there were two or three sloppy balls but some of our football was very pleasing."

Bellamy added: "I believe we could have scored more, we had more chances but you can't be too dissatisfied. It was a good performance, a lot of players came in and did well and it's always nice to get a win."

The result was the perfect way to mark captain Ryan Giggs' 60th cap whilst it consigned Liechtenstein, with manager Urs Meier in charge for the first time, to their 10th consecutive defeat.

Wales were flying from the start at Wrexham's Racecourse ground stadium with Liverpool striker Bellamy and Robert Earnshaw as a front pair and Giggs in a free role behind.

They took the lead on eight minutes when Koumas glided in from the left and unleashed a 25-yard shot that soared into the top corner of the net.

Boavista keeper Peter Jehle was beaten again on 14 minutes when Bellamy worked the ball back to Giggs, who set up Koumas for another long-range effort.

Toshack replaced the injured Giggs and Richard Duffy with Carl Fletcher and Joe Ledley respectively at the break with Bellamy taking over as skipper.

On 69 minutes, there were three Wrexham men on the pitch for the first time since the early 70s when Wales replaced Davies with Mark Jones, who won his first cap.

Bellamy was finally rewarded for his industry with the third goal on 75 minutes when Jones' touch sent him into the box to wrong foot a defender and blast a 12 yarder into the roof of the net.

And with a minute to go Bellamy's lay-off allowed his good friend Llewellyn to score his first goal for his country.

Wales had set up this friendly to provide them with a useful yardstick ahead of a Euro 2008 qualifier against San Marino in March.

And the win will come as a timely end of year pick-me-up for Toshack's men after a stuttering start in their bid to qualify for the next European Cham-pionships.

They lost their opening two ties to the Czech Republic (2-1) and Slovakia (5-1) before their fortunes picked up against Cyprus to leave them in fourth and with plenty of work to do in fourth in Group D.

Picture
Wales striker Craig Bellamy (R) shoots with his favoured left-foot to score against Liechtenstein during their friendly match at The Racecourse Ground in Wales on Tuesday. PHOTO: AFP