Hughes, Giggs back on target

MARK HUGHES broke his three year international goal drought with a double and Ryan Giggs scored his first goal away from Cardiff as Wales put the part timers from San Marino firmly in their place yesterday in this World Cup Group Seven qualifying match.

From the moment Sunderland's Andy Melville knocked home the rebound from Hughes' 20th minute shot, the Welsh were always on course for their biggest win since hitting the Faroe Islands for six goals four years ago.

Hughes, making his 60th international appearance, had not found the target for his country since he scored against the Republics of Czech and Slovakia in Ostrava in April 1993, but there was no holding him yesterday. He crashed home a rising volley from Mark Pembridge's corner 12 minutes after Melville's opener.

Before the break Hughes added another and, five minutes after the interval, an unstoppable Giggs' left footer flashed into the San Marino net.

Giggs then switched to his more customary creative role five minutes from time, scorching past another marker to cross for Pembridge to side foot home.

Charlton's John Robinson, making only his second start, was a fraction away from converting Saunders' fifth minute cross but while the opener took another 15 minutes to arrive, it was early enough to prevent any frustrations.

Robinson swung in from the right, Hughes showed all his strength to shrug aside marker Mauro Valentini and sent in a right footer from 20 yards which chemical factory worker Stefano Muccioli found too explosive to hold.

The ball fell perfectly for Melville, and the Sunderland defender broke his international duck off the underside of the bar.

In the 32nd minute, Pembridge's left wing corner was allowed to drift all the way and Hughes, eight yards out, rifled home. Eleven minutes later Mark Bowen slipped the ball down the right and beyond the home defence and Hughes was through on goal, drilling a low cross shot into the far corner.

Giggs had shown glimpses of his flair in the first half, and as space opened up after the break he did even more. In the 50th minute Robinson crossed from the right, Saunders nodded down and Giggs' left footer fizzed in off the post.

Pembridge claimed his third for his country before the end.