Wales’ amazing unbeaten run under new manager Craig Bellamy finally came to an end after ten games, but what a way to lose! They battled hard in a World Cup Qualifier against Belgium, but sadly lost 4-3 in a truly unforgettable match. Even though they didn’t win, Wales showed a lot of fight and came back from 3-0 down, which is something fans can be proud of.
This match definitely delivered on the Over 2.5 goals tip – in fact, it had seven goals in total! It was also a BTTS (Both Teams to Score) game, as both Belgium and Wales scored multiple times. And judging by this result, future Head-to-Head clashes between these two teams might be just as thrilling.
A Nightmare Start for Wales
Going into the match, everyone knew Belgium would be one of the toughest teams Wales had faced in this World Cup Qualifying campaign. But no one expected such a tough start. In the first 30 minutes, it looked like men against boys. Belgium were wearing yellow and started super strong, attacking right from the kickoff.
The first goal came in the 15th minute. Belgian star Kevin De Bruyne took a shot that hit Brennan Johnson on the arm. After a long VAR check, the referee gave a penalty. Romelu Lukaku stepped up and coolly slotted it into the bottom-left corner, scoring his 89th goal for Belgium.
But Wales had no time to recover before Belgium scored again just four minutes later. De Bruyne again was involved, charging forward and passing to Maxim De Cuyper, who squared the ball for Youri Tielemans to finish calmly into the net. At that point, Wales were already 2-0 down.
Doku Adds Another, But Wales Fight Back
Wales tried to respond. Defender Ben Davies took a strong shot from distance, but Belgian goalkeeper Matz Sels made a good save. Unfortunately for Wales, Belgium quickly attacked again. Jérémy Doku, who had already created chances, took matters into his own hands. He dribbled into the box and fired a rocket into the bottom-left corner. Goalkeeper Karl Darlow got a hand on it, but it wasn’t enough to stop the shot.
At 3-0, things looked very bad for Wales. But just before halftime, they got a lifeline. After a corner, Sels clashed with Chris Mepham in the air, and the referee gave Wales a penalty. Harry Wilson stepped up and sent the ball into the opposite corner. That goal gave Wales hope and changed the mood of both teams as they went into the break.
Second-Half Drama
The second half started with another big Belgium chance. Just one minute in, Dodi Lukebakio got a perfect pass from De Bruyne and found himself one-on-one with Darlow. Everyone thought it would be a goal, but Lukebakio blasted it over the bar!
And that miss proved costly. Just five minutes later, Wales struck again. Johnson and Wilson linked up on the right side with a quick one-two pass. Wilson then played a perfect ball across the box to Sorba Thomas, who smashed it into the far corner. Suddenly, the score was 3-2, and Wales were right back in the game.
Belgium started to feel the pressure again. Lukebakio tried to make up for his earlier miss, but his shot was blocked by Ben Davies after another clever pass from De Bruyne.
Wales weren’t done yet. Manager Bellamy made a double substitution to bring fresh energy into the attack. And with just over 20 minutes left, they completed their incredible comeback.
Wilson found Thomas near the far post. Instead of shooting, Thomas headed the ball back across goal to Brennan Johnson, who was in a great position – almost the same spot where he had given away the early handball! This time, though, he made no mistake, heading the ball powerfully into the net to make it 3-3. The comeback was complete, and the game was truly wide open.
Belgium Get the Last Word
After Wales’ amazing comeback, the match could have gone either way. Belgium thought they had taken the lead again when Lukaku scored, but the goal was disallowed. Still, the Red Devils didn’t give up. Finally, Kevin De Bruyne, who had been brilliant all night, scored the winner. He met a cross from Tielemans and tapped it in from close range to make it 4-3.
Wales couldn’t find another goal in the final minutes, and the game ended in heartbreak for them. But even in defeat, they showed a lot of courage and skill.
What’s Next for Wales?
Even though this loss ended their unbeaten run, Wales can be proud of how they played. Coming back from 3-0 down against a team like Belgium is no small feat. They’ve proven they belong at this level, and with more performances like this, qualifying for a second straight FIFA World Cup is definitely possible.
This match also shows that fans can expect Over 2.5 goals, BTTS, and thrilling moments whenever these two teams meet in the future. The next Head-to-Head is already something to look forward to!
