For the fourth time in the past three games, Gareth Bale scored as he gave Wales a 1-0 lead in their World Cup qualifying tie against Serbia, and he continues to score the all-important first goal. In the past 10 days, Bale has scored against Legia Warsaw in the Champions League, Leganes in the league - where he bagged a brace, and against Serbia on Saturday. Along with those four goals, Bale also bagged an assist as he set up Karim Benzema against Legia. The 27-year-old has seven goals in 14 games for Real Madrid so far this season, as well as four in four for Wales as they look to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. With each game, the Welshman's influence continues to grow.
For Wales he is indispensable, and that is shown by the facts: Bale has thus far been involved in five of Wales' eight goals (four goals and one assist), and he has scored 11 goals and provided four assists in his last 11 fixtures in Cardiff.
Bale's goal against Serbia was his 26th for Wales and that opens up a three-goal lead between him and Trevor Ford in third place on Wales' all-time scoring list, two behind Ian Rush on 28.The result left Serbia second in the section on eight points from four games, two behind leaders Ireland who were 1-0 winners in Austria. Wales are third on six points while fourth-placed Austria have four. Bale fired the Welsh ahead with his 26th international goal when he unleashed a sizzling low shot in the 30th minute to close in on their all-time leading scorer Ian Rush (28). Bale missed a golden opportunity to double the home side's lead moments before Serbia struck at the other end, when Mitrovic got away from his marker to head home Antonio Rukavina's cross from the right.
Match Sheet:
1 - Wales: Wayne Hennessey, Chris Gunter, James Chester, Ashley Williams, Nail Taylor, Joe Allen, Joe Ledley (David Edwards, m.84), Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey, Sam Vokes and Hai Robson-Kanu (Tom Lawrence, m.68).
1 - Serbia: Vladimir Stojkovic, Antonio Rukavina, Branislav Ivanovic, Nicola Maksimovic, Matija Nastasic, Ivan Obradovic; Filip Kostic (Aleksandar Katai, m.70), Nemanja Matic, Luka Milivojevic, Dusan Tadic and Aleksandar Mitrovic (Nemanja Gudelj, m.88).
Goals: 1-0, m.30: Bale; 1-1, m.86: Mitrovic.
Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (ESP). Cards: Gareth Bale, Joe Ledley and Ashley Williams, for Wales; and Nastasic, Stojkovic and Katai, for Serbia.
Stadium: Cardiff City
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