Gareth Bale scored a hat-trick against China to become Wales’ top goalscorer in history.
A first-half double from the Real Madrid man saw him equal Liverpool legend Ian Rush’s total of 28 goals for Ryan Giggs’ side on the former Manchester United winger’s first game in charge of the Dragons.
Marcello Lippi’s team found themselves a goal behind after a minute as Bale latched onto a ball over the top and curled past China goalkeeper Yan Junling.
More: Football
And on the 20-minute mark, Bale matched Rush’s record after capitalising on some sloppy play from the Chinese in defence to slot past Yan.
AdvertisementAdvertisement
Giggs’ men were in complete control and Sam Vokes poked home a third to all but confirm victory at the Cina Cup in Nanning.
Liverpool youngster Harry Wilson, who is currently on loan at Hull, bagged Wales a fourth on the stroke of half-time before Vokes grabbed his second to make it five 13 minutes after the restart.
Minutes later, Bale latched onto another long ball to slot past Yan and grab his 29th goal in a Wales shirt before being replaced.
Wales top scorers
29 – Bale
28 – Rush
23 – Ford
23 – Allchurch
22 – Saunders
19 – Bellamy
16 – Earnshaw
16 – Jones
16 – Hughes
15 – Charles
For Bale, it was a historic day.
The 28-year-old passed Rush’s total of 28 goals for his country despite playing three fewer matches, having already surpassed the likes of Mark Hughes, Craig Bellamy and Dean Saunders.
More: Gareth Bale
AdvertisementAdvertisement
[contf] [contfnew] 
METRO
[contfnewc] [contfnewc]
