Euro 2016: Bale, Robson-Kanu give Wales 2-1 win over Slovakia

IMAGE: Wales players celebrate their 2-1 win in the UEFA EURO 2016 Group B match against Slovakia at Stade Matmut Atlantique on June 11, 2016 in Bordeaux, France. Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images.

Wales forward Gareth Bale got their Euro 2016 campaign off to a dream start with an early goal and substitute Hal Robson-Kanu struck a late winner as they beat Slovakia 2-1 in the Group B opener on Saturday.

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IMAGE: Gareth Bale of Wales scores his team's first goal from a free kick against Slovakia at Stade Matmut Atlantique on June 11, 2016 in Bordeaux, France. Photograph: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images.

Robson-Kanu fired home from inside the area in the 81st minute following a neat pass by Aaron Ramsey to secure the three points after Bale had put the Welsh in front in the 10th with a free kick that deceived Slovakia keeper Matus Kozacik.

Slovakia, who should have scored after five minutes when Marek Hamsik dribbled past three players only to see his goalbound shot cleared off the line by Ben Davies, equalised through substitute Ondrej Duda with his first touch on the hour.

IMAGE: Hal Robson-Kanu of Wales celebrates scoring his team's second goal against Slovakia at Stade Matmut Atlantique on June 11, 2016 in Bordeaux, France. Photograph: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images.

But Robson-Kanu popped up to give Wales a deserved victory in their first major international tournament for 58 years after an inspired substitution by manager Chris Coleman who was as delighted as the hordes of Welsh fans at the Stade de Bordeaux.

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