THE world’s most expensive footballer saved Wales from humiliation as they came from behind to beat Andorra.

Manager Chris Coleman will be breathing a huge sigh of relief after his curious decision to play five defenders against a team ranked 199 in the world and who hadn’t scored in 19 competitive games, almost backfired spectacularly.

Wales were stunned after five minutes when Andorra scored their first competitive goal since September 2010 courtesy of a controversial penalty.

Ildefons Lima flicked on a long throw and Neil Taylor was adjudged to have fouled Ivan Lorenzo, not by referee Cristian Martinez but by one of the fifth officials behind the goal.

Lima sent Wayne Hennessey the wrong way from the spot to spark wild celebrations among the Andorra team.

The 3G artificial surface had generated plenty of headlines in the build-up to the game and it was clearly far from perfect and Wales were rattled, the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Andy King in particular struggling to exhibit their club form.

Ramsey’s best moment of the entire contest came in the very first minute when he found Chris Gunter down the right with a raking pass and the full-back forced Andorra goalkeeper Ferran Pol into a smart save at the near post.

Wales were visibly shocked after going behind, but equalised on 22 minutes when Ben Davies crossed from the left and Bale beat his marker and head firmly into the corner.

Bale's 13th goal for his country settled Wales and Ramsey cut into the area to send Andorra alarm bells, ringing but the hosts just managed to smother the danger.

The Real Madrid star was dropping deep trying to influence matters but Andorra were not overawed and in burly striker Gabriel Riera had a focal point for crosses swung into the Welsh box.

Riera troubled Ashley Williams from one such delivery and James Chester had to react quickly to prevent a goal-scoring opportunity.

Wales were struggling to penetrate a tight Andorra defence but the same Davies-Bale combination which had worked for the goal almost paid off again close to half-time.

Davies swung over another excellent cross but this time Bale was eased off the ball.

Joe Allen was booked in the closing stages of the half after becoming involved in a tussle with Andorra's Edu Peppe.

Wales came out with more intent at the start of the second half and Andorra had to deal with a couple of dangerous set-pieces.

And they must have feared the worst when Bale lined himself up over a 57th minute free-kick after the Madrid man had been pushed to the ground.

Bale's shot dipped in front of goalkeeper Pol who just about managed to push the ball to safety.

But Wales picked up the loose ball and Bale crossed into the centre where Andy King rose well, but could not divert his header goalward.

Coleman sent on Joe Ledley for Church after 62 minutes, arguably a curious decision with the scores level, but Wales were sending men forward in search of a second while being at risk of being exposed on the break.

Williams almost capitalised on a Bale cross, but he was denied by brave Andorra defending while claims for a penalty for handball were waved away by Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic.

Fulham’s teenage forward George Williams was the next to get the call from the bench as Wales huffed and puffed in what was becoming an increasingly bruising encounter, the hosts having six players booked and the number could easily have been doubled.

But it was Bale to the rescue with ten minutes remaining as he smashed home a free kick from 25-yards to see Wales safe.

And it was an extremely positive evening for Wales after Cyprus produced a shock 2-1 win in Bosnia as the race for second spot behind Belgium in Group B was blown wide open.

Meanwhile, former Newport County midfielder Lee Evans snatched a 90th-minute equaliser for Wales Under-21s in their 2015 European Championship qualifier against Lithuania in Alytus.

With other results not going their way the point was not enough to lift Geraint Williams' side any higher in Group One and they finished fourth behind England, Moldova and Finland.

Edwards, who late in the first half had been denied by goalkeeper Tomas Svedkauskas, struck late to rescue a 1-1 draw after Wales pushed hard for the equaliser having gone behind to substitute Edvardas Tamulevicius' 81st-minute goal.

Just before the break Crawley's Gwion Edwards struck the post, with Dovydas Norvilas doing similarly moments before the interval.

"We started the game with six under-19 players and three more came on and it was very encouraging as 13 of the 18 are eligible for next year," Williams told Press Association Sport.

"We asked them to play possession football and in the first half, aside from not taking our chances - the goalkeeper made two good saves and we hit the woodwork - we bossed the game.

"Second half Lithuania came out more physical and they took the lead but we came back to get a good draw."