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21 hours ago
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Craig Bellamy cited Nostradamus in the buildup to this contest, advising to expect the unexpected given the 4‑3 thriller that unfolded the last time these nations met. But while Wales gave Belgium an early fright, two Kevin De Bruyne penalties and a Thomas Meunier strike paved the way to a comeback victory that surely ends the hosts’ hopes of qualifying automatically for the World Cup.
Nathan Broadhead, on as a substitute, pulled a goal back in the 89th minute but almost immediately Leandro Trossard converted from close range to cap the victory, this time featuring just the six goals. Joe Rodon headed in to give Wales a welcome leg‑up but Belgium stirred to maintain their pristine qualifying record; their last defeat in a qualifier coming here in June 2015, when Gareth Bale scored to propel Wales towards Euro 2016. Wales will likely have to do it the hard way if they are to reach North America next summer.
Bellamy demanded an intensity from his side to match the inevitable electricity in the stands. “We cannot be a ploddy team,” he said on the eve of the match. This stadium played the hits, pre-match: Yma o Hyd, Zombie Nation, a light show to boot. The players emerged from the tunnel to a giant banner strewn across the bottom of the Canton Stand: “Tan Yn Eu Gwaed” (Fire in their Blood), Welshmen will not yield.” There was a typically rousing anthem, too, for which the captain, Ben Davies –with this his 100th cap – had his eldest son by his side and his youngest resting over his left shoulder. Davies applied his game face, though his eyes appeared watery. Who could blame him?
Wales arrived at the pitch turbocharged, Bellamy applauding overhead as Mark Harris, the Oxford striker preferred to Brennan Johnson, forced Zeno Debast into a panicked clearance inside two and a half minutes. Quite simply, Wales were everything they were not in the opening minutes at Wembley last Thursday and they led inside eight minutes, an unmarked Rodon heading in a delicious Sorba Thomas corner, their third in relatively quick succession. A beaming Rodon rushed off in celebration, his rusty knee slide leaving him on his backside, every outfield player joining the party.
For seven minutes, Wales were in dreamland – until the German referee, Daniel Siebert, headed to the VAR monitor, to take a look at a potential handball by Ethan Ampadu. A communal groan followed the initial hush and then Siebert pointed to the penalty spot. Ampadu was penalised for his right hand halting Charles De Ketelaere’s dink and a couple of minutes later De Bruyne sent Karl Darlow the wrong way from 12 yards. Bellamy was booked for his explicit protestations towards the officials and will subsequently serve a touchline ban in Liechtenstein next month.
Suddenly the place was deflated and Belgium breezed through the gears, chiefly Jérémy Doku. An off‑balance Trossard, who reverted to the left-wing to allow De Ketelaere to lead the line, punched a diagonal pass out towards the right flank and while Wales considered it a lost cause, Doku did not and retrieved the ball from close to the corner flag. He gobbled up about 40 yards of turf but that was nothing compared to Thomas Meunier, who flew forward from inside his own half to help Doku. The Manchester City winger fed Meunier, whose first-time finish zoomed past Darlow.
From there things threatened to unravel, Rodon preventing Trossard from a near-certain third goal and then De Bruyne blasted over after Doku left Ben Cabango, one of four changes from defeat against England, in a heap.
Bellamy preaches positivity and a couple of nuggets just before half-time offered plenty of hope, Jordan James forcing Thibaut Courtois into an uncomfortable save before Harry Wilson shot wide after latching on to Ampadu’s clever reverse pass.
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Doku, though, was slowly chipping away at Wales’s confidence to mount a comeback. He proved virtually unstoppable in Brussels in June, at the heart of a wild 4-3 Belgium win, and was a constant menace again here. His next magic trick? Slipping the ball through the legs of Davies, who had James for support, and racing to the byline to fashion another chance. A minute later, he flashed a shot just over Darlow’s crossbar. Doku had a chance to establish some breathing space in the 69th minute but after driving inside Davies he sent his shot too close to a grateful Darlow when looking for the far corner.
Davies was forced off through injury a minute later and just as it seemed Wales had regained some semblance of control, De Bruyne was standing over another spot-kick with 15 minutes to play. Trossard found himself in a blind alley, surrounded by red shirts, but then James made a brainless decision to intercept Trossard’s wedged pass out of trouble with his right arm. The Leicester midfielder had no complaints and De Bruyne, after a short wait, dispatched another penalty low, this time into the opposite corner.
