Wales win after N Ireland own goal

PARIS, June 25

It was the cruellest of cuts for Northern Ireland, but even when he does not win games for Wales with goals of his own, Gareth Bale always finds a way and  poor Gareth McAuley will never forget it.

Outplayed and out-thought by Northern Ireland for the majority of this Euro 2016 second round tie in Paris, Wales will now travel to Lille on Friday for a quarterfinal against either Belgium or Hungary after McAuley’s 75th minute own-goal separated these two British Isles rivals.

Wales were poor and Northern Ireland, driven on by the hugely impressive Steven Davis, took to the stage with greater self-belief and organisation. But as Bale’s cross flashed across goal, McAuley could either divert it into his own net or allow Hal Robson-Kanu to tap it in behind him.

Some choice. The West Bromwich Albion defender tried to clear, but the inevitable happened as the ball crashed into the net.  — The Independent