Sturridge scores late to give England 2-1 win over Wales (updated)

Second half substitute Daniel Sturridge scored a last-gasp winner to give England a 2-1 win over Wales in their Group B match of Euro 2016 here on Thursday.

The Liverpool striker, who replaced former Liverpool teammate Raheem Sterling in the second half, played a one-two with Dele Alli and squeezed the ball inside Welsh keeper Wayne Hennessey's right-hand post one minute into the injury time.

England manager Roy Hodgson was very proud of his decision to bring on Sturridge and Jamie Vardy for Harry Kane and Sterling.

"We were anxious to inject a little bit more tempo into our game and anxious to persuade the players to take a few more risks and show confidence in themselves in and around the penalty area. They responded very well."

Wales, playing their first major tournament in 58 years, pulled ahead in the 43rd minute, thanks to a spectacular freekick from their top star Gareth Bale.

Bales, who became the world's most expensive player when he moved from Tottenham Hotspur to Real Madrid in 2014, drove the ball from 35 meters to the right bottom corner. England goalkeeper Joe Hart got hands on it but failed to push it past the post.

Jamie Vardy, a substitution for top English Premier League scorer Harry Kane, levelled the score in the 56th minute. Wales captain Ashley Williams glanced a Sturridge cross back towards goal and Vardy forced the ball over the line for his fourth goal in his last five England appearances.

It was England's first victory in the tournament after they had been held 1-1 in their first match against Russia, who managed a winner in the last moment in Marseille.

"I'd have been a little bit less ecstatic (than I was) had we not conceded that late, late goal against Russia to rob us of a deserved victory. It was very important to win the game today. The Welsh defended exceptionally well, they worked hard and restricted the clear-cut goal chances with the number of players behind the ball in the final third," Hodgson said.

"It took a lot of probing and effort to get the chances we got, I am very pleased we now have four points from two games which in my opinion is the minimum we deserved from the performances," added Hodgson.

England will next face Slovakia while Wales, who beat Slovakia in their first match, meet Russia in their last Group B matches.

Wales head coach Chris Coleman was disappointed with the defeat although he had expected this would be a tough game.

"My players' effort and courage were fantastic - you have to ride your luck a little bit but in the main they had a lot of possession and it wasn't like Wayne Hennessey pulled off save after save, so to lose it like that was gut-wrenching for the players and supporters.

"We won the first one and were 1-0 up in the second one and the fashion we lost it in is a bitter pill to swallow. We have to put it to bed as quickly as we can to get ready for Russia," Coleman said. Endit