Gareth Bale scores twice, including stunning free-kick, in Wales’ World Cup play-off win over Austria as anger for ‘parasite’ Real Madrid man in Spain grows

Gareth Bale proved to be the difference as his two excellent goals sealed Wales a 2-1 win over Austria in their World Cup play-off.

Wales drew first blood at the Cardiff City Stadium on 24 minutes when Bale’s brilliant dipping free-kick hit the net via the crossbar.

And early in the second half he doubled Wales’ lead with a sweet strike into the top corner in the box after collecting the ball off teammate Aaron Ramsey.

A goal from Marcel Sabitzer halved Wales’ lead to set up a nervous finish but Rob Page’s men held on to go within 90 minutes of a first World Cup since 1958.

Wales will play the winner of Scotland’s tie against Ukraine, which has been postponed until June amid the latter’s war with Russia.

It just had to be Bale though, given all the recent noise about his future at Real Madrid.

The 32-year-old is out-of-contract at the Bernabeu this summer and it’s very unlikely he’ll be offered a new deal.

He’s won a bucket load of trophies with Real Madrid, however, his spell at the club hasn’t gone to plan with the fans generally not taking to him during his eight-and-a-half year stay there.

There’s been no reference to Bale’s heroics on Real Madrid’s Twitter account, who have been praising Serbian striker, Luka Jovic, who scored in their clash against Hungary.

Bale is very much a fringe player in the squad, having made just five appearances all season – although injuries have set him back this term and in previous campaigns.

The former Tottenham man missed Real Madrid’s 4-0 humiliation at home to Barcelona, Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti citing Bale ‘not feeling well’ as the reason for his absence.

There were fears he wouldn’t be available for the Wales match but Bale confirmed earlier in the week he would be playing.

It led to a furious backlash in Spain, with Spanish media launching a scathing attack on him – Marca referring to him as a ‘parasite.’

Bale insists the criticism is water off a duck’s back and showed he’s still got plenty to offer on the pitch.

And he could be having the last laugh if he’s representing his nation in Qatar later this year.