Just when Wales thought they had done enough to earn an unthinkable comeback draw, having trailed 3-0 in the first half, Kevin De Bruyne wheeled away in celebration, arms splayed, after regaining Belgium the lead. Nowit was 4-3, Wales’s extraordinary work undone but not forgotten, Craig Bellamy’s unbeaten run finally over.
In the city of the Delirium Village, a cul-de-sac near the Grand Place home to endless varieties of beer, for the 4,500 Wales supporters who made the pilgrimage deliriousness turned to disappointment. A few minutes earlier, a marathon VAR check after Romelu Lukaku thought he had scored went in Wales’s favour, the officials establishing the ball went out of play in the buildup.Belgiumwent to pieces against arguably their bogey team but an unmarked De Bruyne found a winner to cap a ludicrous game.
This Thursday marks 10 years to the daysince one of Wales’s greatest victories, Gareth Bale scoring the only goal against Belgium, then second in the Fifa rankings, in Cardiff. That was a significant step en route to qualifying for Euro 2016, Wales reaching their first major tournament for 58 years. On the night Jazz Richards, a fringe full-back at Swansea who finished his career at Haverfordwest County, was promoted to the starting lineup to help stifle Eden Hazard. Belgium, who were held to a draw in North Macedonia on Friday in their opening World Cup qualifier under Rudi Garcia, had not lost any of their 42 European or World Cup qualifiers since.
For Wales there is, of course, another storied night against Belgium, Hal Robson-Kanu, a free agent after his release by Reading,starring in a 3-1 win in Lilleto march on to the Euro 2016 semi-finals. Here, however, any thoughts of another historic result against Belgium – or indeed their first win in Belgium at the ninth attempt – seemed far-fetched inside 27 minutes, if not earlier. By then Belgium were coasting 3-0, with Jérémy Doku, who Bellamy coached as a 16-year-old during his two years across town at Anderlecht, causing havoc. Bellamy had seen this movie before. On the eve of this game the Wales manager spoke about how Doku could lose his marker in a phone box and how he apologised to opposition under-21 coaches for the damage Doku inflicted on teams.
Belgium were, however, fortunate to be awarded the penalty that set them on their way. The referee, Irfan Peljto, pointed to the spot in the 11th minute but there was a four-minute break to enable a VAR review of the decision to penalise Brennan Johnson for handball. The Tottenham forward tried to shift his left arm behind his back as De Bruyne, having feinted his way past Sorba Thomas and then David Brooks, blasted at goal. Bellamy was left wagging his finger at the fourth official as the penalty was confirmed and Lukaku rolled the ball past Karl Darlow, who dived to his left.
Belgium were snappier thanWales, Youri Tielemans putting on a midfield masterclass alongside his Aston Villa teammate Amadou Onana. Tielemans kickstarted the move that ended with him sending a first-time strike past Darlow. Belgium shifted the ball from right to left and, after Leandro Trossard spied Maxim De Cuyper, De Cuyper squared for Tielemans who did the rest. The third goal arrived on 27 minutes, Doku pressing pause before taking a series of Wales defenders for a ride. He slowed Ben Davies down and then sped past the Wales captain before driving past Jordan James. He then sent a powerful left-footed shot towards goal which crept into the far corner of Darlow’s goal.
It seemed everybody inside the stadium thought that was that. The Wales support behind one goal sat out the Mexican wave that rippled around the ground. But then, with about 25 seconds of four minutes of first-half stoppage time to play, the referee awarded Wales a penalty after Matz Sels collided with Chris Mepham at a corner. Harry Wilson converted the spot kick and yet there was still time for Trossard, in search of 4-1, to zip a shot narrowly wide.
Almost immediately after the restart Dodi Lukebakio, one of two Belgium changes at the break, spooned over when clean through. A previously one-sided game took a sharp twist when, six minutes into the second half, Wales pulled another goal back. Johnson freed Wilson just over halfway down the right flank and the Fulham midfielder spotted Thomas in space. Wilson’s pass seemed to land at Thomas’s feet in slow motion but, when it did, Thomas applied a composed finish.
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The Belgium defence was all at sea and it was a similar story when Johnson completed the comeback in the 69th minute, directing his header into the bottom corner. Thomas cushioned Wilson’s looping cross towards Johnson and he made the most of some slack marking.
For Wales, another duel with Belgium that will live long in the memory.