Wales take lead against Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan 0, Wales 1 (latest)

Gary Speed has given Wales an early lead in their European Championship Qualifying Group Nine match against Azerbaijan.

The Leeds United player put his side in front in the ninth minute as Wales look to extend their lead at the top of Group Nine.

Wales looked nervous at the start, a Paul Jones clearance was sliced, then Page fouled Gurban Gurbanov and from the clever free-kick, Samir Aliyev saw a shot just miss the far post.

Simon Davies lost possession with a sloppy pass and the ball ended back in the Wales box where Gurbanov saw a close range effort touched round by Jones at full stretch, and all this in the first six minutes.

But from Wales’ first genuine attack they caused havoc in the home defence.

Barnard’s ball was knocked on by Ryan Giggs for Hartson to surge down the line and , brush two players before coming into the box to set up Giggs for a close range drive.

Djahangir Hasanzadekh saved well knew nothing about Giggs’ follow up shot that just hit him and went for a corner.

But from that ninth minute Davies’ corner, Speed appeared unmarked beyond the far post to head Wales ahead with his first goal for his country since September 2000, and only his fifth in 71 internationals.