Wales advances to the quarter-finals thanks to an own goal by Northern Ireland.
Dominating the game for most of the second half, Wales couldn't break through the Irish defense until Bale produced the only moment of genuine quality in the match in the 30th minute of the second half. The Welsh talisman exploited a gap in the defense and crossed the ball. McAuley ended up deflecting it into his own net.
By Toby Davis
PARIS (Reuters) - Wales reached the quarter-finals of a European Championship for the first time, beating Northern Ireland 1-0 after Gareth McAuley scored an own goal followed by a cross from Gareth Bale in a low-key match on Saturday.
Dominating the game for most of the second half, Wales couldn't break through the Irish defense until Bale produced the only moment of genuine quality in the match in the 30th minute. The Welsh talisman exploited a gap in the defense and crossed the ball. McAuley ended up deflecting it into his own net.
A cruel blow for the Irish, who had more possession but lacked the quality to create chances against Wales, who now face Hungary or Belgium in Lille on Friday.
"They were definitely better than us today," said Wales coach Chris Coleman.
"They played very well. We showed a lot of courage and determination. We showed a different side to our game. We're sticking together. This is a fantastic achievement."
Steven Davis, Northern Ireland's captain, added: "We gave everything and we can't have any regrets. I'm disappointed with the way they scored. He (McAuley) didn't deserve that, as he's been excellent..."