Wales began their World Cup Qualifying campaign in impressive fashion as Gareth Bale scored twice in a 4-0 win over Moldova in Cardiff, on Monday.

Sam Vokes gave Wales the lead in the 38th minute, steering a header into the net from Bale's superb cross, before Joe Allen scored his first goal for Wales just before half-time.

Bale added a third after the break having raced through one-on-one, before scoring a stoppage-time penalty to take him to within four goals of Ian Rush's all-time Wales goalscoring record.

Image: Sam Vokes gets up to score Wales' first in Cardiff

The result gives Wales the perfect start to their World Cup Qualifying campaign, as they look for their first appearance in the finals of the tournament since 1958.

With Aaron Ramsey injured, Leicester's Andy King took his place in the starting XI, with the Cardiff City Stadium on a high after Wales' heroics at Euro 2016.

But it was a slow start for the hosts, who failed to muster up a chance until late in the half.

Chris Coleman says it was so important Wales got off to a good start

With seven minutes of the opening 45 remaining, Bale's superb cross from the left found the head of Vokes, who nodded past Ilja Cebanu for the opening goal.

Bale then had a go at goal himself from 20 yards, only to be denied by the outstretched arm of Cebanu, but it was 2-0 from the resulting corner.

As Joe Ledley's cross was punched clear, Allen piled the ball under Cebanu from just inside the area with his right foot.

Joe Allen says his first goal for Wales has been a long time coming while Bale says the team are growing

Wales picked up where they left off after the break through Bale, piling through on goal after a loose ball from Ion Jardan and lifting the ball over Cebanu for 3-0.

King nearly put the icing on the cake late on with a long-range effort, but it flew inches wide of the corner of the goal.

But Bale got his second and Wales' fourth in the fifth minute of stoppage time after being pulled down by Andrian Cascaval, dusting himself down to slot home the penalty.

Elsewhere in Group D, Austria beat Georgia 2-1, while the Republic of Ireland drew 2-2 in Serbia, meaning Wales top the group after the first match day.