Soccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group E - Wales v Slovakia - Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Britain - March 24, 2019 Wales' Gareth Bale and team mates celebrate after the match Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
CARDIFF (Reuters) - Wales made a winning start to their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign after Daniel James scored his first international goal on his competitive debut to give them a 1-0 home win over Slovakia in a lively Group E clash on Sunday.
The Swansea midfielder delighted the home fans in a packed Cardiff City stadium when he robbed defender Peter Pekarik of the ball and unleashed a stinging low shot past keeper Martin Dubravka in the fifth minute.
The Slovakians, who beat Hungary 2-0 at home in their opening match on Thursday, went close to snatching a draw in the second half but were denied by a pair of superb saves from Wayne Hennessey.
Soccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group E - Wales v Slovakia - Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Britain - March 24, 2019 Slovakia players after the match Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
The Wales keeper thwarted Albert Rusnak from close range in the 54th minute and kept out a Michal Duris header with an acrobatic save in the 74th as the visitors pressed forward relentlessly in search of an equaliser.
In between those two chances, Dubravka somehow parried a stinging Harry Wilson volley while Pekarik almost made amends for his early error when he headed inches wide of the far post in the closing stages.
Later on Sunday, Hungary host Croatia, who came from behind to beat Azerbaijan 2-1 in their opener on Thursday.
Soccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group E - Wales v Slovakia - Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Britain - March 24, 2019 Wales' Ben Davies in action Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
(Writing by Zoran Milosavljevic; Editing by Toby Davis)
Soccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group E - Wales v Slovakia - Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Britain - March 24, 2019 Wales' Gareth Bale in action with Slovakia's Martin Dubravka Action Images via Reuters/Andrew CouldridgeSoccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group E - Wales v Slovakia - Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Britain - March 24, 2019 Slovakia's Stanislav Lobotka is shown a yellow card by referee Felix Zwayer REUTERS/Rebecca NadenSoccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group E - Wales v Slovakia - Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Britain - March 24, 2019 Wales' Daniel James in action with Slovakia's Albert Rusnak Action Images via Reuters/Andrew CouldridgeSoccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group E - Wales v Slovakia - Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Britain - March 24, 2019 Wales' Wayne Hennessey in action with Slovakia's Albert Rusnak Action Images via Reuters/Andrew CouldridgeSoccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group E - Wales v Slovakia - Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Britain - March 24, 2019 Wales manager Ryan Giggs during the match Action Images via Reuters/Andrew CouldridgeSoccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group E - Wales v Slovakia - Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Britain - March 24, 2019 Wales' Joe Allen in action with Slovakia's Miroslav Stoch Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
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