Spain began life under new coach Julien Lopetegui in perfect style while Gareth Bale inspired Euro 2016 sensations Wales and Kosovo earned a historic point in World Cup qualifying Monday. Lopetegui enjoyed a perfect competitive debut as Diego Costa, David Silva and Alvaro Morata all hit doubles in an 8-0 drubbing of Liechtenstein in Leon. Over in Cardiff, Real Madrid forward Bale teed up Sam Vokes for a 38th-minute opener and then scored his 23rd and 24th international goals either side of an effort by Joe Allen, who registered his first in a 4-0 crushing of Moldova. Elsewhere Daryl Murphy's first ever international goal secured the Republic of Ireland a 2-2 draw against Serbia in Belgrade, and 10-man Italy beat Israel 3-1 in Haifa. But arguably the performance of the night was in Turku where Valon Berisha made history, scoring Kosovo's first goal on its competitive debut as it came from behind to draw 1-1 away to Finland. The goal gave Kosovo a precious point in qualifying Group I after Paulus Arajuuri had put Finland in front from close range in the 18th minute. Kosovo was accepted into FIFA in May, and this was a remarkable result given that world football's governing body only gave its approval for a host of players to represent the Balkan outfit earlier Monday. Among those given the green light at the last minute were goalkeeper and captain Samir Ujkani, previously capped by Albania, Albert Bunjaku, who featured for Switzerland at the 2010 World Cup, and goal-scorer Berisha, who was playing for Norway as recently as June. Spain's comprehensive win put it atop Group G ahead of Italy on goal difference. Spain and Italy meet in their next qualifier in Turin on Oct. 6. Chris Coleman's Wales, which lost to eventual champion Portugal at Euro 2016, is seeking to qualify for its first World Cup since 1958. "We had to get off to a good start in the first game," said Wales manager Coleman. Like Coleman, Ireland's manager Martin O'Neill was satisfied with his team's first steps to Russia. "I think we fought back magnificently," said the 64-year-old Northern Irishman after Jeff Hendricks had put his side into a three minute lead, with Filip Kostic and a penalty from Southampton's Dusan Tadic putting Serbia in front before Murphy's equalizer. In Israel, new Italian manager Giampiero Ventura reflected on his debut win with goals from Graziano Pelle, Antonio Candreva from the penalty spot, and Ciro Immobile, after veteran defender Girgio Chiellini was sent off in the 55th minute for his second yellow card. He said: "I won't say our performance was perfect, as we conceded that goal similar to the one we let in against France (in last week's friendly)." Turkey snatched a precious point against Croatia as the two nations renewed their rivalry with an entertaining 1-1 draw in an empty Maksimir Stadium. Iceland survived a missed penalty as it began its bid to qualify for a first-ever World Cup by holding Ukraine to a 1-1 draw away from home. Albania celebrated a dramatic 2-1 win over Macedonia 15 hours after its World Cup Group G qualifier began in Shkoder. A torrential downpour had forced the game's abandonment at 1-1 in the 76th minute Monday. In another encounter Austria edged Georgia 2-1.
