No persons under the age of 18 are permitted to gamble. South African Responsible Gambling Foundation toll free counselling line 0800 006 008
Commentary
Minute
Description
90' +5
FULL-TIME: WALES 4-1 IRELAND
90' +2
Despite their side's performance this evening, the Irish fans are still enjoying themselves in the far corner of the stadium. They are missing a lot of regular players due to injuries.
90'
There will be a minimum of five minutes of added time played.
89'
Not long left to play here at the Cardiff City Stadium, the pace of the game has dropped significantly now as Wales comfortably see the game out to a conclusion.
87'
ANOTHER CHANCE! Brooks should be scoring! The Bournemouth man was through on goal, could've played the ball off to Ramsey who had found space but instead he goes for goal himself. However, Stevens gets across from left-back and makes a superb block just inside the six yard box.
85'
Brooks and Lawrence still look dangerous for Wales, opening up the Ireland defence. This time it is Brooks with the shot at goal, but his effort is blocked by Clark and eventually cleared by the visitors' defence.
83'
Next up for Wales is a trip to Denmark on Sunday, who have just resolved their dispute with their World Cup stars and will be back to a full strength side, which will be a tougher test for Giggs' players. Meanwhile the Republic of Ireland travel to Poland on Tuesday.
81'
P. Dummett enters the game and replaces B. Davies.
Here is the final Wales change, with Davies replaced by Dummett, a straight swap at left-back.
80'
Wales are still pressing for another goal here, they have caused the visitors so many problems this evening and probably should be further ahead.
78'
WALES CHANCE! Great opportunity to make it 5-1, but Roberts is denied by a superb save by Randolph. He plays a quick one-two with Ramsey on the edge of the box, then fires a low effort at goal which almost sneaks into the bottom corner, but the Ireland keeper gets down quickly to tip the ball around the post.
Minute
Description
77'
D. Horgan enters the game and replaces C. Robinson.
Third and final Republic of Ireland substitution as Robinson comes off to be replaced by Horgan, who is making his competitive debut.
75'
T. Roberts enters the game and replaces G. Bale.
Another Wales change as Bale comes off the pitch and he has been replaced by Roberts.
73'
The tempo of the game has dropped, Wales aren't trying to attack all the time now and are instead enjoying just keeping the ball and making the visitors do all the pressing and chasing.
71'
Allen is now playing in the defensive midfield role that Ampadu had enjoyed this evening. With Smith playing a more attacking role in the midfield which has changed the dynamic of the Wales attacks slightly.
69'
The goal seems to have kicked the Republic of Ireland into life and they are trying to play with more pace, however it's all pretty straightforward for Wales defensively.
67'
M. Smith enters the game and replaces E. Ampadu.
Ampadu is given a standing ovation by the crowd as he makes his way off the pitch, after a superb performance in the centre of midfield. Matthew Smith is his replacement.
66'
S. Williams has scored a goal for Republic of Ireland!
GOOOAAALLL! Williams pulls one back for Ireland to make the score 4-1. Ramsey took too much time on the ball just outside the Wales penalty area and Williams pressed high and forced the error. He then ran through on goal and chipped the ball over Hennessey.
65'
Wales are playing the ball nicely around the pitch, with the visitors struggling to get anywhere near them at the moment. The home crowd are delighted with their sides performance, as the 'ole's' ring out around the Cardiff City Stadium.
63'
CLOSE! Luckily for Ireland the offside flag is up as Bale has the ball in the back of the net once again! The Real Madrid man just sets off too quickly as he gets on the end of a chipped ball over the top by Ampadu.
61'
E. Stevens enters the game and replaces S. Ward.
Ward is unable to continue here and he has been replaced by Stevens.
59'
Stoppage in play here as Ward is down after appearing to pick up a knock to his knee. The left-back has already played a lot of games this season with Burnley starting their season early due to their participation in the Europa League and Ward has appeared heavily in that competition.
56'
S. Williams enters the game and replaces C. Hourihane.
Republic of Ireland have made their first substitution of the game with Hourihane coming off and he has been replaced by Williams.
55'
C. Roberts has scored a goal for Wales! Assist by G. Bale.
It was a great ball by Bale to pick out Roberts, who did the rest with his strike. That's Roberts first ever goal in senior football!
GOOOAAALLL! It's 4-0! Roberts bags the fourth goal of the evening, after coming so close to scoring from a header in the first half. Bale drilled a low cross to the right-back, who took a touch and then fired the ball into the bottom corner. Another fantastic strike!
51'
C. Clark gets yellow.
The first yellow card of the game is shown to Clark, after he blocks Bale from making a run in behind.
50'
Ireland chance! Duffy rises highest at a corner and powers a header towards goal, but it doesn't have enough power on it and Hennessey comfortably gathers.
48'
No changes for either side at the break, however it still Wales doing all of the pressing and they are keeping the visitors penned inside their own half and struggling to get out.
46'
The second half is underway!
45' +2
HALF-TIME: WALES 3-0 IRELAND
45'
There will be a minimum of two minutes added time played.
43'
It's been a tough evening for Ireland, they've been second best throughout the game and they are struggling to create anything going forward. Meanwhile Wales remain strong on the counter, they're pressing high up the pitch and working the ball well in the Ireland final third when they have it.
41'
Not long to go until the break now, can Wales extend their lead even further before half-time? They certainly look the more likely to score next.
37'
A. Ramsey has scored a goal for Wales! Assist by E. Ampadu.
Ampadu has been superb tonight, the 17-year-old has controlled the midfield, he nicked the ball off Walters in the middle of the park and then played the ball through to Ramsey, who took a touch and then fired it into the back of the net.
WALES LEAD 3-0! What a performance this is by the hosts, they are romping to victory! Ramsey scores Wales' third goal of the evening. Once again it comes after a quick piece of play which catches Ireland off guard at the back. Ramsey was completely unmarked at the far post and as the ball comes to him, he manages to direct it into the back of the net, just beating Randolph at his near post.
36'
IRELAND CHANCE! Best opportunity of the game for the visitors. Coleman gets forward down the right and pulls the ball back for Robinson who is just inside the penalty area unmarked. However, he is unable to keep the ball down and it flies over the bar.
33'
Another Wales chance! Davies sprints forward down the left and whips a superb ball into the penalty area, which is met by Roberts, who powers a header at goal but the ball flies just over the crossbar! Wales should be further ahead.
31'
CLOSE! Wales look very dangerous on the counter! Williams clears the ball from the Wales defensive third and sets Brooks away down the left. He feeds Lawrence who cuts inside from the left wing, he then curls a shot at goal from 20 yards out which forces Randolph into making a good save.
29'
SHOT! Bale picks out Brooks in the box after some excellent interplay between the Welsh attackers. However, Brooks then slices his shot well wide of Randolph's goal.
26'
Christie breaks forward on the counter for the visitors, his pace gets him away from the Wales midfield, he then tries to play a pass into the feet of O'Dowda but the pass is cut out. Much better in these last few minutes.
24'
Ireland win their first corner of the game, they have a strong aerial threat and this could be their main avenue of getting back into the game this evening. However, Williams gets his head on it to clear it away.
22'
Williams seems to have found his captains armband, he forgot to put it on ahead of the game! So far the Stoke loanee hasn't had much to do defensively.
20'
Ireland look short of ideas, they can't cope with the pace that Wales are playing with at the moment and the constant movement between the top three. They are second best in every area of the pitch, Wales look very strong.
18'
G. Bale has scored a goal for Wales! Assist by B. Davies.
Wales broke forward quickly and Davies spotted Bale who had dropped off Clark to find some space. The Real Madrid man then did the rest!
GOOOAAALLL! Wales lead 2-0! Bale with a superb goal to double Wales' lead. Davies produced a fine cross to pick out Bale, who chested the ball down and cut inside onto his left foot, before curling the ball perfectly into the top corner of the net.
14'
First Ireland chance! O'Dowda tries his luck from the edge of the area, his shot takes a deflection which takes much of the power off the shot and it allows Hennessey time to gather the ball comfortably.
12'
Walters is cutting an isolated figure up top of Ireland at the moment, with the debutant Robinson, playing just off him. However, they are struggling to get the ball into the feet of either player.
10'
The movement is quick and sharp from Wales, meanwhile Ireland are struggling to string a couple of passes together and they haven't caused the hosts any problems defensively yet.
8'
Wales are in control of this game and they look a threat every time they venture forward, with Bale, Lawrence and Brooks constantly making runs around the Ireland back three. They are constantly changing positions, rather then sticking in one role.
6'
T. Lawrence has scored a goal for Wales! Assist by J. Allen.
Allen played a perfect ball into the path of Lawrence, he dropped his shoulder and got past Clark, before producing a fine finish to score his third international goal.
GOOOAAALLL! Wales lead 1-0! Lawrence with an early goal to give the hosts the lead. It was a lovely move, with Ampadu spraying the ball out to the wing and it then gets fed inside to Allen who spots Lawrence making a run in-behind and the Derby County man gets away from Clark with ease, before smashing the ball past Randolph and into the back of the net.
4'
The atmosphere is superb inside the Cardiff City Stadium, with both sets of supporters making their voices heard here. Wales will be keen to avenge their World Cup qualifying defeat at the hands of tonight's opponents.
2'
Wales look full of energy and pace early on here, with Ramsey and Bale linking up well already and stretching the Ireland backline, but a cross to Allen on the edge of the box, ends with the Stoke midfielder taking a poor touch and the visitors clear the danger.
1'
We're underway!
That's all from us tonight folks, we hope you enjoyed the game!
However, the goal proved only to be a consolation strike as Wales continued to dominate the game and could and should have scored more goals this evening. A great performance.
Wales secure their first competitive victory under Ryan Giggs at the Cardiff City Stadium as they wrap up a superb 4-1 victory over the Republic of Ireland, Roberts scoring his first ever senior goal in the second half to extend the 3-0 lead that Wales had built up from the first half. Ireland pulled one back through Williams after a huge mistake by Ramsey on the edge of the area, which allowed the Millwall man in.
Ireland struggled to create any chances of their own and they could be even further behind, as they were unable to cope with the Wales' dangerous attacking trio. Can the visitors pull a goal back in the second half, or will Wales go on and extend their lead.
A perfect half of football by Wales, they deservedly lead 3-0 at the break, thanks to goals from Lawrence, Bale and Ramsey, but Bale's was the pick of the bunch, curling the ball into the top corner after cutting inside onto his left foot. The hosts looked keen from the start, playing with pace and power from the off.
The teams are out at the Cardiff City Stadium, the anthems are underway and kick-off is almost upon us! Stay tuned for all of the match action.
Giggs has named a youthful side for his first competitive game in charge, as Ampadu, Brooks, Roberts and Mepham all start, despite only having nine caps between them. Meanwhile there is a debut for Callum Robinson for the Republic of Ireland.
IRELAND SUBS: Colin Doyle, Sean McDermott, David Meyler, Shaun Williams, Graham Burke, John Egan, Aiden O'Brien, Enda Stevens, Daryl Horgan, Matt Doherty, Richard Keogh, Kevin Long.
IRELAND (4-4-2): Darren Randolph (GK); Seamus Coleman (c), Shane Duffy, Ciaran Clark, Stephen Ward; Cyrus Christie, Jeff Hendrick, Conor Hourihane, Callum O'Dowda; Callum Robinson, Jonathan Walters.
WALES SUBS: Danny Ward, James Chester, Matthew Smith, Harry Wilson, Adam Davies, Tom Lockyer, Andy King, Sam Vokes, Chris Gunter, Paul Dummet, Joe Ledley, Tyler Roberts.
WALES (4-2-3-1): Wayne Hennessey (GK); Ethan Ampadu, Ashley Williams (c), Chris Mepham, Ben Davies; Joe Allen, Aaron Ramsey; Connor Roberts, David Brooks, Tom Lawrence; Gareth Bale.
Let's take a look at the team news...
Ryan Giggs has a full-strength Wales squad, with Gareth Bale fit and in superb form after scoring in Real Madrid's opening three LaLiga games. However, O'Neill has a lot of players missing due to injury, including Shane Long, Robbie Brady and James McCarthy.
The clash with Martin O'Neill's side at the Cardiff City Stadium is a reunion between two teams who last met in a World Cup qualifier, when Ireland ended Wales' qualification hopes by winning that encounter 1-0, before they lost to Denmark in a play-off the following month.
Good evening and welcome to our LIVE match commentary of the Nations League clash between Wales and the Republic of Ireland.
Commentary
More…