April
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The name on the lips of European football tonight is Robert Earnshaw.

Boss Mark Hughes congratulates Earnie
(www.bbc.co.uk)

Ask the Germans before todays game if they knew him and I bet they did not. Ask them now and he is the latest Welsh International to beat the them since Ian Rush in 1991. The whole world has heard of Ian Rush. How long before they all know about Earnie?

BBC Radio 5's report

Earnie talks to the BBC's Rob Phillips.

Earnie runs away to celebrate
(pic courtesy of www.sportingwales.com)

Earnie scored only 13 seconds from the restart as Wales blitzed into a second half lead. No German player had touched the ball when Earnie controlled and cut in from the right to fire past the helpless Kahn into the roof of the net.

It could have been even better for Earnie, several minutes later he had the ball in the net again but was ruled offside after some good work by Hartson.

Despite the Germans hitting the post twice as the game drew to a close tonight was Robert Earnshaws and Wales' night. The pint sized striker will get all the headlines and rightly so. He was a class act and this his debut.

Mark Hughes took Earnie off to a massive ovation as the clock ticked into injury time. Chris Coleman, still recovering from a horrific car crash, came on for the final seconds. A superb piece of man management by Mark Hughes. Earnie got the ovation he deserved and Coleman received the welcome back he thought may never happen again.

The hero of Welsh football celebrates, Ryan Giggs at his side
www.bbc.co.uk

Comment from www.skysports.com

MAN OF THE MATCH: Rob Earnshaw (Wales) - A debut to savour for the Second Division striker. He and John Hartson could be Wales' best strike force since Hughes and Rush

Here are some links to the reports from the media.

Match report from the BBC

Dream debut for Earnie

Dream debut by Earnshaw

Debut delight for Earnshaw in Cardiff

The Earnie somersault. Known by Cardiff fans everywhere
( www.sportinglife.com )

Match report from PA Sport (Sporting life)
You had to blink to believe it. Wales produced a remarkable, historic victory to send the might of Germany home a shattered, shambolic mess.

The damage was done by 21-year-old debutant Robert Earnshaw, who grabbed a cracking winner 13 seconds into a pulsating second half.

If Germany thought this was going to be a gentle stroll in their preparation for the World Cup finals they were in for a nasty shock.

Wales, achieving by far their best result under Mark Hughes and arguably for a decade, ran themselves ragged and fully deserved the win.

It is almost 11 years to the day that Germany were last in Cardiff and that time Ian Rush's goal produced a miracle victory that is still being talked about today.

Now the Welsh will have another historic triumph to add to that and Earnshaw's wonder goal will go down in folklore.

The stadium announcer got in on the act at the end, giving it the full "Your boys took a hell of a beating" tirade.

But few, apart from some disbelieving Germans, would deny Wales this moment.

Germany were a mess at the back, could not handle the high balls and the passion, and finished in disarray.

They will head off to Japan next week for their group game with the Republic of Ireland with their confidence shattered.

Wales, in their last match before their European qualifiers next season, were magnificent.

There were heroes all over the park, and battling men in red who wanted this one so much.

Wales were without 10 senior men, forcing Hughes to give young Earnshaw - known as Ernie to everyone - his full debut.

And how the 21-year-old Cardiff City kid took his chance.

His pace, sheer enthusiasm and effort bothered Germany's giant defenders, and there was even an exchange of words between the tiny local lad and Bayern Munich's giant 'keeper Oliver Kahn after Earnshaw had clattered into the German skipper chasing a through ball.

Kahn was not impressed, but he should really pick on someone his own size, not that Earnshaw was bothered!

Earnshaw certainly was not overawed. He got away with a cheeky drag back and high speed burst and then attempted an ambitious overhead kick to the delight of his home crowd.

But the Earnshaw's cameo apart, Germany produced neat, pacy passing moves which sent the ball gliding across the turf, prompted mostly by Jens Jeremies.

Wales were hounding and scrapping, and Germany were making mistakes.

On eight minutes Earnshaw's instant flick put Ryan Giggs clear.

He was forced wide but still got in a drive that found Kahn's giant frame blocking like a rerun of a Bayern Munich-Manchester United clash.

The Germans hit back with more slick movement and a header from Miroslav Klose that flashed over.

Next to try his luck was Spurs star Christian Ziege, who had a long-range effort touched over before Torsten Frings sent a header high over the top.

Then Gary Speed's pass found Earnshaw bursting into space, and although his cross was blocked, Robbie Savage charged in to fire the rebound well wide.

Dietmar Hamann, on 39 minutes, attempted the sort of 40-yard free-kick that he put past England at Wembley in a World Cup qualifier, but this time it skidded wide of a post.

Kahn was forced into a plunging punch to clear one cross, and a wild flay of an arm to paw away another high ball, with Earnshaw waiting.

Wales were amazingly ahead just 13 seconds after the re-start. John Hartson's header from Mark Delaney's long ball fell into the box.

Earnshaw ran across Christoph Metzelder and crashed the ball into the top corner before embarking on a manic celebration run before being engulfed by a mass of jubilant team-mates.

Two minutes later Wales should have had another when Giggs' pass sent Simon Davies racing away, bursting from his own half onto the ball and charging into the box only to see Kahn make a fine plunging save to his right.

On 53 minutes Speed got away on the left, crossed low and Earnshaw was only stopped by Ziege's out-stretched leg.

Wales' confidence soared and they were launching attacks from both flanks.

Giggs saw a 20-yarder pulled down by Kahn before Wales thought they had scored again on 58 minutes.

Hartson put Earnshaw in with a pass which saw the young striker behind the defence.

Earnshaw was six yards out and his first shot was saved before he belted home the rebound, only to find a linesman's flag raised for offside, much to the crowds' fury.

Germany were not enjoying this and Frings was booked for body-checking Delaney on 60 minutes.

The Germans hurled everything in at the death and twice they hit the woodwork, first with a Marco Bode header and then a Carsten Jancker drive.

It was fierce. Savage was pulled away from two confrontations and Delaney was booked for showing his anger at a blatant dive.

Speed, Gerald Asamoah and Jancker were all cautioned in a pulsating conclusion.

In injury time Chris Coleman made his long-awaited comeback as a substitute for man of the match Earnshaw, who went off to a stunning ovation from all sides.

The celebrations, though, were only just starting.