Bellamy earns famous victory for Wales

Wales's chances of qualifying for the finals of a major tournament for the first time since 1958 took an enormous leap with a 2-1 win over Italy at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff last night. Craig Bellamy's 71st-minute goal took Wales to the top of Group Nine with six points from two games. Wales had taken the lead after 12 minutes through Simon Davies, although Alessandro Del Piero equalised 20 minutes later.

A goal three minutes from time by Switzerland's Fabio Celestini inflicted a second defeat in two Group 10 games for the Republic of Ireland at Lansdowne Road last night. The visitors took the lead through Hakan Yakin and it took an own goal to level the scores.