Soccer-De Bruyne to the rescue as Belgium hold off gallant Welsh fightback
Soccer Football - European Qualifiers - Group J - Belgium v Wales - King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium - June 9, 2025 Belgium's Romelu Lukaku celebrates scoring their first goal with Youri Tielemans REUTERS/Yves Herman
BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Kevin De Bruyne came to Belgium's rescue with a winner two minutes from time as they scraped a 4-3 home victory over Wales in their World Cup qualifier on Monday after seeing their early lead evaporate as the visitors launched an unlikely fightback.
Belgium had been 3-0 up inside the first half hour, but Wales fought back to level the game before the Belgian talisman handed his side a potentially precious win in the qualifiers for the 2026 finals in North America.
It was a controversy-filled encounter with two penalties, a key strike ruled out and several lengthy interventions by VAR.
Belgium's record goalscorer Romelu Lukaku got things going with a 15th minute penalty, followed by goals in the 19th minute for captain Youri Tielemans and Jeremy Doku in the 27th minute.
Wales pulled a goal back from a Harry Wilson spotkick on the stroke of halftime and then turned the game around with second half strikes from Sorba Thomas and Brennan Johnson.
(Writing by Mark Gleeson in London; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
an hour ago
- Malay Mail
De Bruyne's late strike lifts Belgium over Wales in 4–3 World Cup qualifier thriller
BRUSSELS, June 10 — Kevin De Bruyne spared Belgium's blushes after blowing a 3-0 lead to beat Wales 4-3 and kickstart the Red Devils' 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign on Monday. Goals from Romelu Lukaku, Youri Tielemans and Jeremy Doku inside half an hour had given Belgium a dream start. Wales, though, rallied through a Harry Wilson penalty, Sorba Thomas and Brennan Johnson to stun the side ranked eighth in the world. But De Bruyne rode to his nation's rescue, as he has so often in a stellar career, by steering in Tielemans' perfect cross in the 88th minute. Defeat was Craig Bellamy's first as Wales manager as they fell just short of a national record of 10 matches unbeaten. However, there remains plenty of positives for Wales' hopes of reaching next year's World Cup. They sit second in Group J, one point behind North Macedonia, and three in front of Belgium, who have two games in hand. Only one side will automatically qualify with second earning a place in the play-offs. After a 1-1 draw at North Macedonia on Friday to begin their qualifying campaign, Rudi Garcia recalled three of his Premier League stars in Leandro Trossard, Amadou Onana and Tielemans and Belgium clicked into gear. De Bruyne's shot struck the arm of Johnson inside the area to give Lukaku the chance to open the scoring from the penalty spot for his 89th international goal. Tielemans rounded off a brilliant team move for the home side's second moments later as he turned in Maxime De Cuyper's low cross. A dazzling solo effort from Doku compounded Wales' woes as they seemed set for a second half of damage limitation. However, Harry Wilson's penalty reduced the visitors' deficit in first half stoppage time after Matz Sels was controversially penalised for a clash with Chris Mepham. Bellamy's men were right back in the game when Wilson brilliantly picked out Thomas to slot home Wales' second six minutes into the second period. Johnson's header completed the comeback 21 minutes from time, but the visitors were unable to hold out against Belgium's superior firepower. Lukaku had a second goal controversially ruled out for the ball being out of play in the build-up after a lengthy VAR review. That proved to be a mere reprieve for Wales as moments later Tielemans' cross picked out the unmarked De Bruyne to volley in at the back post. — AFP
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Belgium battle past Wales, Italy win in World Cup qualifying
BELGIUM held off a battling Wales and Italy gave sacked coach Luciano Spalletti a winning send-off in World Cup qualifying on Monday. Elsewhere Manchester City star Erling Haaland's goal lifted Norway past Estonia, Luka Modric was among the scorers in Croatia's 5-1 rout of the Czech Republic, and the Faroes Islands left it late to down Gibraltar 2-1. Giacomo Raspadori and Andrea Cambiaso scored in each half as Italy beat Moldova 2-0 to inject a smidgeon of pride back in the Azzurri camp after last week's 3-0 thrashing by Norway which cost Spalletti his job. The Italians trail Norway by nine points in European qualifying group I by nine points and are at risk of missing out on a third straight World Cup. Even though they have played two games less their ticket to the United States, Canada and Mexico next year is far from certain. Only top spot in each group guarantees automatic qualification with Italy's best hopes appearing to rest on finishing second and reaching the play-offs. 'When you're the national team coach you have no excuses, it's you who selects the squad,' said Spalletti to public broadcaster Rai. 'It's the coach who has to make the difference and unfortunately I wasn't able to do that.' Over in Brussels Belgium raced to a three-goal lead over Wales courtesy of Romelu Lukaku, Youri Tielemans and Jeremy Doku inside half an hour. Wales, though, rallied through a Harry Wilson penalty, Sorba Thomas and Brennan Johnson to stun the side ranked eighth in the world. But De Bruyne rode to his nation's rescue, as he has so often in a stellar career, by steering in Tielemans' perfect cross in the 88th minute. It left Wales sitting second in Group J, one point behind North Macedonia, 1-0 winners over Kazakhstan, and three in front of Belgium, who have two games in hand. This was Wales manager Craig Bellamy's first defeat in his first 10 matches in charge. Wales captain Ben Davies told the BBC: 'Getting back as close as we did is probably why it's as painful as it is. 'We knew we could do a lot better. You could see in the second half, we managed to nick a goal before half-time and it gave us something to hang on to and we pushed them close. 'We have plenty more games we just have to focus on ourselves and hopefully results go our way.' On Tuesday the Netherlands host Malta in Groningen hoping to make it two wins from two and close the gap on Poland, who have a stiff test in Finland, in Group G.
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Italy beat Moldova as troubled Spalletti era comes to an end
ITALY got off the mark in their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign with Monday's 2-0 win over Moldova, Luciano Spalletti's last game as Italy coach. Giacomo Raspadori and Andrea Cambiaso scored in each half for the Azzurri who sit third in Group I, trailing leaders Norway by nine points, and are at risk of missing a third straight World Cup. Only top spot in the group gives direct qualification for next year's finals in the USA, Canada and Mexico and even having played two games fewer than Norway, Italy's best chance looks to the be finishing second and reaching the play-offs. However Italy were denied a place at the last two World Cups after being beaten in the play-offs and are in the midst of an identity crisis following their disastrous title defeat at last year's European Championship. Spalletti, who presided over a dismal last-16 exit at the Euros, coached Italy on Monday having already been told that he was to be sacked after the 3-0 thumping dished out by Norway in their opening qualifier on Friday. 'When you're the national team coach you have no excuses, it's you who selects the squad,' said Spallett to public broadcaster Rai. 'It's the coach who has to make the difference and unfortunately I wasn't able to do that.' Spallettti goes out after another uninspiring match played in a flat atmosphere in Reggio Emilia, where Italy got the three points needed but did little to inspire confidence in the future whoever replaces Spalletti. Claudio Ranieri is widely reported as being the Italian Football Federation's preferred candidate to replace Spalletti and guide Italy towards the World Cup, even though he retired from coaching after performing a near miracle with Roma this past season. Ranieri is 73 years old and working as a consultant for the American owners of his boyhood team Roma who he dragged from near Serie A's relegation zone to fifth place. But that hasn't stopped a media campaign practically begging the man nicknamed 'Sir' to come out of retirement for the second time to take control of a national team at possibly its lowest ebb.
