Bale does really well to win three successive corners. He is on his own with Cotteril in the Cyprus half but the clock is running down and time running out for the visitors.
90' +1
D. Edwards gets yellow.
Into four minutes of stoppage time and Edwards picks up a booking for a foul on Makrides in midfield. The hosts hanging on in the final moments.
89'
Gunter does well to hold the ball up before winning a free-kick from Alexandrou. Cyprus cannot get the ball as they search for an equaliser against the ten men.
87'
Neil Taylor delivers a cross from the left-hand side that Edwards is able to run onto and head goalwards, but the Wolves man's effort flies narrowly wide.
85'
A. Papathanasiou enters the game and replaces A. Angeli.
C. Kyriakou gets yellow.
Cyprus too make their final substitution as Angeli is replaced by Papathanasiou, with the replacement going up front. Meanwhile, Kyriakou is booked for a foul on Bale.
84'
J. Taylor enters the game and replaces H. Robson-Kanu.
Wales make their third and final change as Robson-Kanu is replaced by debutant Jake Taylor for the closing stages.
83'
JUST OVER! Cyprus break down the right hand side as Kyriakou chips a ball back from the byline, but Efrem can only head over the top when well placed.
81'
Robson-Kanu does well to break through two tackles and into the box, but he is soon shut out and Wales must ferry back to defend against another wave of attacks.
79'
Closing in on the final ten minutes and Gunter does well to win a throw-in up against Alexandrou on the Wales right. Coleman's team are doing brilliantly in their defensive work.
Minute
Description
77'
Wales are winning a number of free-kicks now and slowing the game down. Robson-Kanu is the latest to go to ground as he is tugged back by Merkis just inside the Cyrpus half.
75'
Makrides is somewhat fortunate to get away with only conceding a free-kick after tripping Bale from behind, but Cotterill cannot take advantage as his ball into the box is headed clear at the near post.
73'
Wales are holding their own as Cyprus continue to dominate possession and territory. Hennessey is yet to be tested in the second half, however.
71'
Edwards uses his strength to win a free-kick from Makrides around 35 yards from goal, but Bale gets it all wrong from the dead ball as he skies it into the stands.
69'
SO CLOSE! Bale does brilliantly to shrug off Angeli and create an opportunity for himself. The angle is incredibly tight and the winger's effort slides along the goal-line and Cyrpus are able to clear.
68'
N. Alexandrou enters the game and replaces M. Nikolaou.
Cyrpus make their second change of the night as Nikolaou is replaced by Alexandrou.
66'
For no reason Anglei lines up a speculative effort from around 40 yards and it flies high into the stands behind the goal. Needless from the central defender.
64'
P. Sotiriou gets yellow.
The referee suddenly stops play as Soteriou is yellow carded for an off-the-ball altercation with Chester. Needless from the striker.
62'
Wales seem to have regained a little control after Edwards' introduction with their formation much more balanced. That said, Bale is becoming a little isolated.
60'
Gunter looks to play the ball over the top and into Bale's path, but the former Tottenham man cannot beat Kissas to the ball as the goalkeeper clears into touch.
58'
D. Edwards enters the game and replaces G. Williams.
Wales look to shore up their midfield following King's dismissal as Edwards replaces George Williams. Bale is now back up front.
57'
JUST WIDE! Christofi cuts inside from the right touchline before hitting a left-footed effort from 20 yards that is deflected narrowly wide. The resulting corner is headed off target by Efrem.
56'
Antoniades brings the ball forward down the left before finding Efrem, but his shot is half-blocked and loops into Hennessey's arms. Cyprus dominating possession now.
54'
Cyprus keep the ball on the edge of the Wales area before Chirstofi finally shoots, but he slices his effort and it flies well wide of the post.
52'
Chester does well to rescue a mislaid Ledley pass inside the Wales half and there is real tension inside the stadium now. The hosts will have to hang on for a long time to win this game.
50'
Bale has dropped into midfield now with Williams left to run the line on his own for the time being. Coleman may well look to make a change sooner or later, however.
48'
G. Bale gets yellow.
47'
A. King goes off after a red card!
RED CARD! KING IS SENT OFF! The Leicester City man catches Makrides from behind as he scrapes his studs down the back of the Cyprus captain, and the referee has no hesitation in sending the midfielder off. Bale is then booked for arguing about the decision.
46'
Cyprus kick-off and we are back underway in Cardiff...
45' +3
GOOD SAVE! Robson-Kanu plays in Cotterill and the Birmingham City man looks to place an angled strike past Kissas. The goalkeeper does well to parry before Bale sees the rebound deflected narrowly over the crossbar.
45' +2
We are into four minutes of stoppage time at the end of the first half due to the number of injuries and substitutions in the opening 45 minutes. Wales seeing it out comfortably at present.
45'
Laban whips in the set-piece but Ashley Williams gets up highest to head the ball away. Wales can breath again as the break approaches.
44'
Ashley Williams is penalised for climbing all over Soteriou and Cyrpus have a chance to get the ball into the box in the closing stages of the half...
42'
Gunter swings in a cross from the right-hand side that Cotterill looks to get on the end of, but Merkis steps in to head away. Wales finishing the half strongly.
40'
OFF THE LINE! Somehow Cyprus survive as Kissas parried Bale's free-kick straight up in the air before Ledley's header is cleared off the line by Merkis.
39'
A. Angeli gets yellow.
George Williams picks up on a loose ball in the centre circle before driving towards the Cyrpus box, and Angeli picks up a booking as he brings the Fulham youngster down.
38'
Wales are a little shell-shocked after Laban's slightly fortunate strike, and they must make sure they get into half-time in the lead. Cyrpus' tails are up.
36'
V. Laban has scored a goal for Cyprus!
GOAL!!! LABAN PULLS ONE BACK! Cyprus are back in it and it's a horrible moment for Hennessey. Laban curls in a free-kick from the right with his left foot and the goalkeeper totally misses his punch and allows the ball to land in the bottom corner.
34'
D. Cotterill gets yellow.
Cotterill picks up a yellow card as he goes in hard on Kyriakou. That looked slightly harsh as he got the ball, though he was high and had his studs showing.
33'
Cyrpus look to bring the ball forward but a good challenge from Robson-Kanu on the edge of the box brings the move to an end. Good defensive work from the winger.
31'
Cyprus are doing all they can to get a foothold in the game but Wales are still very much in control. Ledley and King are keeping the hosts ticking over well in midfield.
29'
A. Angeli enters the game and replaces Dossa Júnior.
Junior is not going to be able to continue and Angeli is on in his place. That's an early change from both teams now due to injury.
28'
Wales break with pace down the right as Cotterill feed Gunter with the full-back able to slide in a low cross. Kissas gets his hands to it and just pushes it away from the incoming King.
27'
We have a break in play as Junior goes down clutching the back of his right leg after landing awkwardly following an aerial duel with Bale. The defender has struggled so far up against Wales' attacking lynchpin.
25'
Wales are rampant coming forward, and only a poor ball from Gunter into Cotterill brings their latest attack to an end. Coleman's side look to be securing their place at the top of Group B.
23'
H. Robson-Kanu has scored a goal for Wales! Assist by G. Bale.
GOAL!!! ROBSON-KANU MAKES IT 2-0! Wales in dreamland, and this is all down to Bale. The Real Madrid man plays a superb flick pass into Robson-Kanu's path, and the winger makes no mistake as he slides the ball under Kissas.
21'
The tempo of this match is unrelenting, with Wales looking to play balls in for the pacy Bale and George Williams while Kristofi is holding the ball up well for Cyrpus and causing Taylor a lot of problems on the right-hand side.
19'
Cotterill swings in another right-footed cross that Kissas comes to collect this time as Robson-Kanu flashed in front of him to try and win the header.
17'
Kristofi does well to work himself a crossing opportunity on the right-hand side but the ball is slightly behind Efrem and he cannot get his flicked shot on target.
15'
Bale is having plenty of joy in these early stages and he again drives at the heart of the visitors' defence before hitting a swerving effort from 30 yards. Kissas gets behind it but again fails to hold on and needs a second bite of the cherry to complete the save.
14'
Cyrpus threaten straight away as Soteriou finds space on the left-hand side of the box but his low curled effort is a weak one and Hennessey can save with ease.
13'
D. Cotterill has scored a goal for Wales! Assist by A. King.
GOAL!!! COTTERILL OPENS THE SCORING! George Williams does well to win a corner on the left-hand side, and after Cyprus clear the initial set-piece, Cotterill swings in a right-footed cross from the left that evades everyone and nestles in the bottom corner. Great start for Wales.
12'
Bale looks to work an opening on the edge of the penalty area and after twisting and turning he prods an effort towards goal. The shot, though, is straight at Kissas and the goalkeeper can hold on with ease.
11'
Wales have had the monopoly on possession in the early stages without really threatening. Without Ramsey and Allen they will have to be creative to find Bale in space.
9'
Cotterill seems to have taken up a position on the left, with George Williams slotting in behind Gareth Bale in attack. Wales now operating with a 4-4-1-1 system.
7'
Bale hits the free-kick from 30 yards and Kissas has to watch the ball carefully as it swerves in the air. The goalkeeper is unable to hold on at the first attempt but there is no one there following up.
6'
D. Cotterill enters the game and replaces S. Church.
As Bale waits to take the resulting free-kick, Cotterill comes on to replace the stricken Church up front.
5'
M. Nikolaou gets yellow.
J. Ledley gets yellow.
Bale is hacked down the first time he finds himself in possession, and Nikolaou is rightly booked by the referee. Ledley isn't happy and grabs the defender and the officials have to step in and calm the situation.
4'
Church is not going to be able to continue and Wales are looking to reorganise and get a substitute on. For now, though, they are playing with ten men and without a central striker.
2'
Some early concern here for Wales as Church stays down clutching his shoulder after a coming together with Merkis. The referee waved play on but the Charlton striker looks to have hurt himself as he landed.
1'
After a pre-match huddle by the hosts, it is Wales who kick-off to get the match underway...
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the Euro 2016 qualifying encounter between Wales and Cyprus. Chris Coleman's side top Group B after a win over Andorra and a goalless draw with Bosnia-Herzegovina, and know a win tonight will put them in pole position to reach their first major finals since 1976. I'm Tom Maston and I'll be guiding you through all the action from the Cardiff City Stadium.
Wales had goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey to thank for securing them a point against Bosnia on Friday as the Crystal Palace man produced a number of fine saves to deny the likes of Edin Dzeko and Miralem Pjanic. That said, Coleman's team could have snatched all three points in injury time had Gareth Bale's shot not been tipped away by Asmir Begovic, and have visibly grown in confidence since the start of the campaign after recent results.
Cyprus, meanwhile, cannot be underestimated after they secured a surprise 2-1 win over Bosnia in their opening group match. The excitement that came with that result was tempered somewhat by a defeat by the same margin to Israel on Friday, but they look set to provide tough opposition for the more established nations on the road to France 2016.
Before we go any further, the two teams have named their starting line-ups ahead of kick-off in just over 20 minutes...
Wales: Hennessey; Gunter, Chester, A. Williams, Taylor; G. Williams, King, Ledley; Robson-Kanu, Church, Bale.
Wales make two changes from the draw against Bosnia, with Jonny Williams out injured and Ben Davies left on the bench. George Williams and Hal Robson-Kanu come in which should lead to change of system from 3-5-2 to 4-3-3. Bale starts despite a sore back, though other star men Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen remain on the sidelines through injury.
Cyrpus, meanwhile, make four changes from the side that went down to defeat against Israel, including in goal where Anastasios Kissas replaces Antonis Georgallides. They look set to line-up in a 4-2-3-1 system with FC Sion's Dimitris Christofi leading the line.
Kick-off is just over ten minutes away in Cardiff, and after a full house on Friday the stadium is only set to be two-thirds full for this evening's encounter. That still means there will be around 20,000 supporters looking to create a great atmosphere inside the arena.
These two sides have met five times before, with Wales having won on three occasions including two home victories from two. They were drawn against each other in qualification for Euro 2008, with Wales winning the home match 3-1 through goals from Jason Koumas, Robert Earnshaw and Craig Bellamy. Bale and Joe Ledley both appeared in that game but otherwise there has certainly been a generational shift in Welsh football.
The two teams are in the tunnel as they prepare to make their entrance into the arena. The Wales fans who have made the journey to Cardiff are making plenty of noise and they are about to greet their heroes.
The teams make their way out onto the pitch and the two national anthems are belted out with gusto by players and supporters alike. Both teams obviously see this as an opportunity to take a big step towards Euro 2016 qualification, and we are about to find out which side that will be...
The half-time whistle blows and Wales have the lead their first-half display deserved. Cotterill and Robson-Kanu's goals gave the hosts a comfortable lead, but a misjudgement from Hennessey has given Cyprus a sniff. Bale has been dangerous throughout, and I'll be back in ten minutes to see if he can be the difference in the second half.
The two teams are making their way back out onto the pitch as the second half approaches. Wales lead but they will need another goal to make things more comfortable for themselves.
The full-time whistle blows, and Wales have hung on to continue their fine start to Euro 2016 qualifying. Bale punches the air, and Coleman's side remain top of Group B with a heroic second half showing. They are three points clear, and with Belgium up next, they can start to believe they can reach a major tournament for the first time since 1976. For now, I've been Tom Maston, and thanks for joining me.
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