Wales overcame fellow British side, Northern Ireland, by a lone goal to become the second team to qualify for the quarter-finals of the 2016 European Championship.
Gareth McAuley’s own from a Gareth Bale cross 15 minutes before time was enough for Chris Coleman’s team to progress to the last eight for the first time in history.
The West Brom defender turned Bale’s delicious cross past his own goalkeeper at the Parc des Princes to end the run of a Northern Irish team competing at their first Euro finals.
Coleman’s men, who had a first-half Aaron Ramsey goal correctly ruled out for offside, are also at their maiden Euros and will now face either Hungary or Belgium in a Lille quarter-final next Friday.
The former Fulham boss was glad to see his lads progress despite not being at their best.
“It wasn’t pretty but we got through it,” said Coleman after the game. “We were hanging on at times.
“I’d rather be standing here in the quarter-final having not played at our best, though.
“You have to give Northern Ireland credit. They are very difficult to play against.
“They were probably the better team on the day, but we showed a lot of courage and got the result.”
