Bale scores 2 as Wales crushes Israel 3-0 in soccer qualifier

Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey heads the visitors into the lead; Real Madrid star adds second and third

Led by Gareth Bale, visitors Wales swept past Israel 3-0 in their European Championship qualifying game Saturday night, before a sell-out crowd of 30,000 at Haifa’s Sami Ofer Stadium.

Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey headed Wales ahead, from a headed pass by Real Madrid’s Bale, just before half time. Bale scored the second from a free kick early in the second half. Ramsey turned provider for the third goal, smashed home at close range by Bale.

Israel played most of the second half with 10 men, after Eitan Tibi was sent off with two yellow cards, both incurred when thwarting Bale’s attacks.

Israel’s top scorer in the tournament to date, Omer Damari, went off injured late in the first half.

Wales dominated the game, and Israel barely threatened. Only the injection of Brn Sahar in the second half brought a modicum of attacking menace down the left wing, but Wales goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey was hardly troubled, apart from intercepting one Sahar cross.

Aaron Ramsey (left, in red) heads Wales into a 1-0 lead over Israel in their March 28, 2015 European Championship qualifier (Channel 1 screenshot)

Israel had won all three of its opening fixtures — against Andorra, Cyprus and Bosnia — to top qualifying group B. Wales was one point behind, with two wins and two draws; Saturday night’s victory put Wales top of the group.

Israel’s home game against Belgium on Tuesday may now prove crucial to its qualifying chances. “There’s still a long way to go” in the tournament, said goalkeeper Ofer Marciano after the game.

Israeli national coach Eli Guttman had joked on Friday that he tried to call Bale’s Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo for advice on how to thwart him. “We contacted Cristiano exactly how to do it, how to stop Bale,” Guttman said. “But he didn’t answer the call.”

Gareth Bale puts Wales into a 2-0 lead over Israel in their March 28, 2015 European Championship qualifier (Channel 1 screenshot)

More seriously, Guttman said: “It is not about one man.”

As it turned out, the game was in good part about one man, as Bale proved too fast and stylish for Israel to handle. “We’re going to play the game as one unit not to give (Bale) space. This is our plan,” Guttman had said. But Gale kept finding the few vital yards to wreak havoc in the home defense.