by Michael Wicherek
Date: Wednesday 22 March, 2018
Venue: Guangxi Sports Centre Stadium, China
RYAN Giggs’ first game in charge saw Gareth Bale score a hat-trick and become Wales’ all-time record goalscorer during an emphatic 6-0 victory over China in the semi-final of the China Cup.
Bale struck inside two minutes, running on to Sam Vokes’ flick on before checking back on to his favoured left foot and firing his shot past Yan Junling.
Wales were comfortable in possession and showed flashes of class, while China were energetic but lacked quality in the final third rarely testing Wayne Hennessey in the Welsh goal.
Ashley Williams missed a headed opportunity from a set-piece after Ben Davies’ corner was flicked on by James Chester at the near post.
The Welsh forwards pressed China high throughout and in the 21st minute Vokes won possession and released Bale who raced into the penalty area and coolly slotted in his and Wales’ second goal.
Andy King had a penalty appeal waved away after a neat dummied interchange involving Vokes and Joe Allen set King free but his touch eluded him and the referee saw no problem with the challenge.
Vokes made it 3-0 when he outmuscled He Guan to flick King’s headed knock down into the far corner with the outside of his right foot.
Another excellent dummy from King created space for Bale who forced a save from Junling with a powerful strike from 18 yards.
Harry Wilson marked his first International start with a fine goal on the stroke of half-time, curling a left footed finish into the left corner of the goal to give Wales a 4-0 lead.
The second half continued in the same vein, the impressive Wilson turning on the edge of the box before sliding a ball through to Vokes’ who’s composed finish heaped more misery on China.
Bale provided the pass of the match, sending a cross field ball from the right hand side to Vokes who couldn’t find the target with a left footed volley.
The Real Madrid forward completed his hat-trick after China failed to deal with Joe Allen’s long ball, Bale latching on to it before stroking the ball into the bottom right corner.
Chinese substitute Yu Hanchao provided the hosts only meaningful attempt at goal, forcing Hennessey into a finger tip save with his curling shot from 20 yards.
A string of substitutions disrupted Wales’ rhythm with debutant Chris Mepham coming closest to changing the score line heading on to the roof of the net from a corner.
Wales will play the winner of Uruguay and Czech Republic on Monday.
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