Wales thrash Moldova, Republic of Ireland draw with Serbia

Gareth Bale scored twice and claimed one assist as Wales beat Moldova 4-0.

Sam Vokes gave Wales the lead in the 38th minute, steering a header into the net from Bale’s superb cross, before Joe Allen scored his first goal for Wales just before half-time.

Bale added a third after the break having raced through one-on-one, before scoring a stoppage-time penalty to take him to within four goals of Ian Rush’s all-time Wales goalscoring record.

The result gives Wales the perfect start to their World Cup Qualifying campaign, as they look for their first appearance in the finals of the tournament since 1958.

With Aaron Ramsey injured, Leicester’s Andy King took his place in the starting XI, with the Cardiff City Stadium on a high after Wales’ heroics at Euro 2016.

But it was a slow start for the hosts, who failed to muster up a chance until late in the half.

With seven minutes of the opening 45 remaining, Bale’s superb cross from the left found the head of Vokes, who nodded past Ilja Cebanu for the opening goal.

Bale then had a go at goal himself from 20 yards, only to be denied by the outstretched arm of Cebanu, but it was 2-0 from the resulting corner.

As Joe Ledley’s cross was punched clear, Allen piled the ball under Cebanu from just inside the area with his right foot.

Wales picked up where they left off after the break through Bale, piling through on goal after a loose ball from Ion Jardan and lifting the ball over Cebanu for 3-0.

King nearly put the icing on the cake late on with a long-range effort, but it flew inches wide of the corner of the goal.

But Bale got his second and Wales’ fourth in the fifth minute of stoppage time after being pulled down by Andrian Cascaval, dusting himself down to slot home the penalty.

GEORGIA 1-2 AUSTRIA:

First-half goals from Martin Hinteregger and Marc Janko got Austria’s World Cup qualifying campaign off to a winning start as they beat Georgia 2-1 in Tbilisi.

Hinteregger headed the opener after 16 minutes of the Group D clash before Stoke’s Marko Arnautovic teed up Marc Janko for a second three minutes before the break.

Georgia responded well to the setbacks and went close to pulling one back when Valeri Kaziashvili headed against the woodwork.

Jano Ananidze set up a tense finish when he did force a reply 12 minutes from time but the visitors held on.

SERBIA 2-2 IRELAND:

At the age of 33 on his 24th Ireland appearance, Daryl Murphy’s late header snatched a point for Republic of Ireland as they drew 2-2 with Serbia in their opening 2018 World Cup Qualifier on Monday.

Jeff Hendrick gave the visitors a perfect start when he struck home in the third minute for his first international goal, although Serbia capitalised on their pressure when Filip Kostic equalised an hour later.

Serbia went ahead seven minutes later as Jon Walters fouled Kostic inside the box with Dusan Tadic converting the spot kick, before Murphy’s header ten minutes from time sealed a point for Martin O’Neill’s men.