Belgium 4-3 Wales: Incredible comeback ends in Welsh heartbreak amid major drama

Wales Online

3 days ago

Wales almost pulled off a stunning comeback in their World Cup qualifier against Belgium on Monday night, fighting back from 3-0 down to 3-3 before their hopes were dashed in heartbreaking fashion.
Goals from Harry Wilson, Sorba Thomas and Brennan Johnson looked to have given Craig Bellamy's side a share of the spoils against all the odds.
But a late, late Kevin de Bruyne goal gave the home side all three points in a quite bonkers match.
Talk about a game of two halves.
The result blows Group J wide open, with North Macedonia having beaten Kazakhstan earlier in the day, leaving Wales in second place behind the North Macedonians.
Before the match Bellamy had said: 'We go there and I'm not camping. I'm not sitting back. It's not in my make-up. I can't do it, I don't want to do it.'
That may have been the plan but the quality of the hosts was evident from the start.
Bellamy made three changes to the XI that had beaten Liechtenstein 3-0 last Friday, with Chris Mepham, Jordan James and David Brooks coming in for Neco Williams, Liam Cullen and Kieffer Moore.
Wales were very much on the backfoot from the start and the visitors were happy to let the hosts have possession. But they very quickly made them pay, with Thomas and Johnson forced back pretty much from the off.
Wales were given an early warning when Jeremy Doku had a shot blocked but they were soon behind. A deflected shot from De Bruyne hit Johnson's arm in the box and the referee pointed to the spot.
After a lengthy VAR check, Romelu Lukuku sent Karl Darlow the wrong way.
It was nothing more than the hosts deserved. Ethan Ampadu then went into the book and there was further bad news for Bellamy in the 19th minute when Belgium doubled their lead.
Lovely combination play between Lukaku and Leandro Trossard saw the Arsenal man square the ball in the box to the advancing Youri Tielemans, who side-footed into the top corner.
Wales were rattled, but responded well, first through David Brooks and then Thomas shots, before De Bruyne almost made it three at the other end.
And it was indeed a three-goal margin minutes later when Doku, dancing around the edge of Wales' box, got a left-footed drive off which was too powerful for Darlow to keep out.
Forget about rattled, Wales were now stunned and the hosts were running riot. Even with 15 minutes until the half-time whistle they looked like they were hanging on for dear life but just before the break they were handed a lifeline.
A corner drifted in from the left saw Belgian keeper Matz Sels take out Mepham in the air and the referee awarded another spot-kick.
Again, VAR got involved, but the decision stood and Wilson fired home to give the men in red some hope.
After the break Wales came out with purpose but just two minutes in it should have been four. Dodi Lukebakio, off the bench, fired over when clean through on goal.
But on 52 minutes the away team really were back in business when Wilson's excellent pass from the right found Thomas who coolly slotted past Sels.
It was now the hosts who were rocked and Wales had so much more about them.
The match ebbed and flowed and for all of Belgium's dominance, Wales looked dangerous on the break.
Liam Cullen and Mark Harris were thrown on in an effort to shift things up and the latter almost made an instant impact, heading a Thomas cross wide.
With 20 minutes to go, the comeback looked complete, with Johnson heading home after a cushioned headed cross from Thomas to turn the game on its head.
If any team looked like they were going to go on and win it, it looked like Wales but with less than 10 minutes on the clock Lukaku put the home side in front again. Or so he thought - with VAR ruling the goal out, with the ball appearing to have gone out in the build-up.
But just seconds later though de Bruyne popped up at the back post to break Wales fans' hearts.
Wales: Darlow; Roberts, Rodon, Mepham, B. Davies; Ampadu, J. James; Johnson, Wilson, Brooks, Thomas.
Subs: Ward, A. Davies, Cabango, Dasilva, Kpakio, Sheehan, Cullen, Broadhead, Matondo, Harris, Koumas, Moore.
Belgium: Sels; Meunier, Debast, Faes, De Cuyper; Tielemans, Onana, De Bruyne; Trossard, Doku, Lukaku
Subs: Vandevoordt, Lammens, Theate, Raskin, Vanaken, Openda, Saelemaekers, Lukebakio, De Winter, De Ketelaere, Mechele, Moreira.