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