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Kevin de Bruyne to the rescue as Belgium hold off gallant Welsh fightback
Wales players look dejected after the match on June 9. PHOTO: REUTERS
Kevin de Bruyne to the rescue as Belgium hold off gallant Welsh fightback
BRUSSELS – Wales coach Craig Bellamy insisted he was proud of his players, despite losing late in their World Cup qualifier in Belgium on June 9.
Kevin de Bruyne came to Belgium's rescue with a winner two minutes from time as they scraped a 4-3 home victory, 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 battled back to level the game before the Belgian talisman handed his side a potentially precious win in the Group J qualifiers for the 2026 Finals in North America.
'Really proud. We didn't cope with the momentum in the first half when the penalty went against us. We suffered for a period there. We got a penalty and it gave us that belief,' said Bellamy.
'We were able to move the ball with momentum and the second half was outstanding.
'Since September, since I came in with them, I have felt immensely proud to be their coach. I've always, every training session and every game, been left with that.
'In the second half, I hope they've seen what they can do and seen how good they are. That was pleasing. I hope this gives us the belief to be the team we want to be. We move on from it.'
It was a controversy-filled encounter with two penalties and several lengthy interventions by VAR.
Belgium's record scorer 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 half-time and then turned the game around with second half strikes from Sorba Thomas and Brennan Johnson.
De Bruyne, however, brought the home team much relief with a backpost finish in the 88th minute as he ghosted in unmarked to get onto the end of a Tielemans long cross from the other side of the field.
Wales had their hopes dashed at the end to slip to second in the standings behind North Macedonia, who won 1-0 away earlier in Kazakhstan.
North Macedonia have eight points to Wales' seven after four matches for both sides while Belgium have four after two fixtures completed.
Only one side will automatically qualify with second earning a place in the play-offs.
Off the pitch, a Wales fan was taken to hospital after falling from the stands during the match at King Baudouin Stadium.
The unnamed supporter fell from the upper tier into the lower tier amid celebrations when Wales equalised with their third goal, according to the Football Association of Wales.
"He was conscious and speaking and has now been taken to hospital for further checks," the FAW said in a statement, while no further details about his condition have been released. REUTERS, AFP
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