Wales have secured a morale-boosting 1-0 win over Iceland courtesy of Ched Evans' winner in Reykjavik.
Evans scores on debut as Wales win
Wales have secured a morale-boosting 1-0 win over Iceland courtesy of Ched Evans' winner in Reykjavik.
International debuts do not come much better than Evans' first game for Wales - the Manchester City youngster grabbing the winner just five minutes after his arrival on the pitch.
There were few early chances but Iceland almost got Palmi Palmason clear on the right for a near-post effort, and after 12 minutes Wayne Hennessey produced a fine reflex save to thwart Palmason again.
Jack Collison and David Fletcher both had efforts from the edge of the box charged down as Wales sought to hit the home side on the break.
But there was a lack of tempo to Wales' game, although Jason Koumas managed to pop up in dangerous positions, producing one cross from the right that saw Fletcher fire in a shot that was deflected wide.
Sad end
Fletcher's first game as Wales skipper was sadly to end after just 39 minutes when he was brought down from behind by Palmason.
Gunnar Porvaldsson could have broken the deadlock after 41 minutes with a shot on the turn that flew over the bar. But within five minutes of coming on, Evans put Wales ahead with a neat backheel from Ledley's cross.
In the second half Koumas saw a 30-yarder fizz just wide before Wales sent on Sam Vokes, also for his debut, after 48 minutes for Freddy Eastwood. At the same time Neil Eardley replaced Joe Ledley.
Craig Bellamy's arrival on the hour mark brought pace and attacking ideas, and one cross almost produced a goal for Vokes at the far post.
Palmason's stabbed effort after 79 minutes was their only chance of the second half. With a minute left, Andrew Crofts came on for Koumas, who had held the captain's arm band, and it was finally returned to Bellamy for the final moments of an impressive Wales display.
