Wales slump in Cyprus

Wales fell apart in dramatic fashion in the second-half of their European Championship qualifier in Cyprus as they slumped to an embarrassing 3-1 defeat.

The visitors led at the break through a James Collins goal, the West Ham man then forced off with an ankle injury before the break.

The second period saw Wales concede three times in 21 minutes, their defence all over the place as Ioannis Okkas scored twice, with substitute Constantinos Charalambides heading the third.

Wales had taken the lead with 20 minutes played. A foul on Gareth Bale produced a free-kick to the far post, and Collins was there to sidefoot home.

After taking the lead, though, Wales sat back and invited trouble. John Toshack's troops then lost Collins on 43 minutes and were clinging on until the break.

The home side did draw level on the hour. Danny Gabbidon was harshly judged to have fouled Okkas 30 yards out. From Stathis Aloneftis' curling free-kick, Okkas then surged through to head past Danny Coyne.

And Wales gifted Cyprus a second on 67 minutes. Yiasoumi Yiasoumis' cross from the right sailed to the far post, where Sa, Ricketts dithered and Coyne failed to react.

Aloneftis stabbed it forward - and Okkas, almost on the line and looking offside, forced the ball home.

The match was all over after 78 minutes when Aloneftis was allowed to cross from the left, Alexandros Garpozis headed back into the danger area, and substitute Charalampidis - who was on trial at Cardiff this summer - headed past a now bewildered Coyne.