Wales captain Gareth Bale set up Aaron Ramsey and Connor Roberts to score for a 2-0 victory over Turkey in their Group A match at Baku’s Olympic Stadium on Wednesday to take a big step towards qualifying for the European Championship knockout stages.

Ramsey failed to convert two chances early in the first half but scored just before half-time when he made a run through the middle to chest down Bale’s perfect ball over the defence and slip it past the goalkeeper.

Wales could have doubled the lead at the hour mark when Bale was tripped by Zeki Celik and awarded a penalty, but the Welsh skipper skied his effort after a stuttering run-up.

Wales scored right at the death in injury time when a corner was played short and Roberts was on hand to divert a Bale pass past goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir to seal the victory.

“I’m delighted with the win. We fought hard, we worked our socks off like we always do,” Bale said after the game, adding that his contributions compensated for the penalty miss.

The surprise semi-finalists of Euro 2016 now have four points, after drawing with Switzerland in their opener. Their final game is against Italy next week. Turkey take on the Swiss.

Ramsey was twice picked out by Bale with superb defence-splitting passes but both times he failed to score, with Cakir denying him from a tight angle in the sixth minute and then thundering a shot over the bar in the 24th.

There was nothing lucky about the third time with Bale floating a cross in the 42nd minute for Ramsey who brought the ball down perfectly and slotted under Cakir.

Piece of magic 

Russia’s Aleksei Miranchuk scored a stunning first half stoppage time winner against Finland to put his team’s back on track with a 1-0 victory that keeps Group B wide open.

Man of the match Miranchuk took on two defenders on the right, changed direction and scooped the ball into the far corner with a superb left-footed effort as Russia made amends for their loss to Belgium

Russia, meanwhile, have confirmed that Mario Fernandes did not suffer a spinal injury. The full back had a rough fall in the first half after an aerial duel which saw him fall on his back and neck.