Migrant carers from India's Kerala await justice in UK visa 'scams'    Russia and Ukraine carry out attacks after Putin-Trump call    Israelis protest outside government headquarters after new wave of Gaza airstrikes    Nasa astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams finally return to Earth    Harry's US visa records unsealed after drug claims    Saudi Arabia slams Israeli attempts to destabilize Syria through continuous attacks    Commerce ministry: Shoppers can refuse receiving shipment if product is defective    Saudi Arabia surpasses self-sufficiency in figs    Istituto Marangoni to open Riyadh campus in August 2025    621 car maintenance businesses operate under franchise system in Saudi Arabia    Meeting of emirs reviews enhancing security and achieving comprehensive and sustainable development "King and Crown Prince direct to make things easier for the people"    Crown Prince Historic Mosques Project restores Al-Abasa Mosque in Abu Arish    Civil Defense bolsters safety measures for pilgrims in Makkah and Madinah    Princess Reema bint Bandar greets Saudi Special Olympics team in Jeddah    AFC Champions League Elite Finals draw sets stage for Jeddah showdown    Cannes award-winning actress Dequenne dies at 43    Newcastle United ends 70-year wait for domestic glory with Carabao Cup triumph    Antenna: Saudi artist Ahmed Mater opens first solo exhibition in China    Al Nassr climbs to third with dominant win over Al Khaleej, Al Qadsiah slips after loss to Damac    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    Man lives for 100 days with titanium heart in successful new trial    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Spain and Wales cruise in qualifiers
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 07 - 09 - 2016

Spain began life under new coach Julien Lopetegui in perfect style while Gareth Bale inspired Euro 2016 sensations Wales and Kosovo earned a historic point in World Cup qualifying Monday.
Lopetegui enjoyed a perfect competitive debut as Diego Costa, David Silva and Alvaro Morata all hit doubles in an 8-0 drubbing of Liechtenstein in Leon.
Over in Cardiff, Real Madrid forward Bale teed up Sam Vokes for a 38th-minute opener and then scored his 23rd and 24th international goals either side of an effort by Joe Allen, who registered his first in a 4-0 crushing of Moldova.
Elsewhere Daryl Murphy's first ever international goal secured the Republic of Ireland a 2-2 draw against Serbia in Belgrade, and 10-man Italy beat Israel 3-1 in Haifa.
But arguably the performance of the night was in Turku where Valon Berisha made history, scoring Kosovo's first goal on its competitive debut as it came from behind to draw 1-1 away to Finland.
The goal gave Kosovo a precious point in qualifying Group I after Paulus Arajuuri had put Finland in front from close range in the 18th minute.
Kosovo was accepted into FIFA in May, and this was a remarkable result given that world football's governing body only gave its approval for a host of players to represent the Balkan outfit earlier Monday.
Among those given the green light at the last minute were goalkeeper and captain Samir Ujkani, previously capped by Albania, Albert Bunjaku, who featured for Switzerland at the 2010 World Cup, and goal-scorer Berisha, who was playing for Norway as recently as June.
Spain's comprehensive win put it atop Group G ahead of Italy on goal difference.
Spain and Italy meet in their next qualifier in Turin on Oct. 6.
Chris Coleman's Wales, which lost to eventual champion Portugal at Euro 2016, is seeking to qualify for its first World Cup since 1958.
"We had to get off to a good start in the first game," said Wales manager Coleman.
Like Coleman, Ireland's manager Martin O'Neill was satisfied with his team's first steps to Russia.
"I think we fought back magnificently," said the 64-year-old Northern Irishman after Jeff Hendricks had put his side into a three minute lead, with Filip Kostic and a penalty from Southampton's Dusan Tadic putting Serbia in front before Murphy's equalizer.
In Israel, new Italian manager Giampiero Ventura reflected on his debut win with goals from Graziano Pelle, Antonio Candreva from the penalty spot, and Ciro Immobile, after veteran defender Girgio Chiellini was sent off in the 55th minute for his second yellow card.
He said: "I won't say our performance was perfect, as we conceded that goal similar to the one we let in against France (in last week's friendly)."
Turkey snatched a precious point against Croatia as the two nations renewed their rivalry with an entertaining 1-1 draw in an empty Maksimir Stadium.
Iceland survived a missed penalty as it began its bid to qualify for a first-ever World Cup by holding Ukraine to a 1-1 draw away from home.
Albania celebrated a dramatic 2-1 win over Macedonia 15 hours after its World Cup Group G qualifier began in Shkoder.
A torrential downpour had forced the game's abandonment at 1-1 in the 76th minute Monday.
In another encounter Austria edged Georgia 2-1.


Clic here to read the story from its source.