Kevin’s cracker crushes perfect start for Wales
GARETH BALE revealed this week that playing in a World Cup would put the seal on his glittering career — but Kevin De Bruyne will have far loftier targets in the international game.
Though Wales emerged with credit from their opening qualifier for Qatar 2022, they return empty-handed after De Bruyne’s first-half masterclass.
Harry Wilson’s superbly-worked goal gave Wales a shock lead yet Belgium dominated the rest of the half, equalising through De Bruyne and completing the comeback when Thorgan Hazard — brother of injured Real Madrid star Eden — headed home.
Wales improved after the break but Romelu Lukaku’s penalty 18 minutes from time ended their hopes as Belgium gained a degree of revenge for Wales’ stunning win over them in Euro 2016.
With Rob Page in charge due to the continued absence of Ryan Giggs, Wales were looking to extend their unbeaten record against Belgium to five matches. There are flaws to Roberto Martinez’s side but some of their football in the first half was breathtaking. Wales were depleted by injuries and neither side was helped by a dreadful playing surface in Leuven.
Bale said: ‘The pitch was not great at all but you can’t use it as an excuse. In an ideal world you play on a better pitch.’
Defender Connor Roberts added: ‘We thought it was going to be better and it showed with their second goal, when I went to jump and slipped.’
Wales, without Aaron Ramsey and Ben Davies due to injury, lost another key man when midfielder Joe Allen pulled up with eight minutes on the clock and was replaced by Joe Morrell.
Yet Page’s team responded brilliantly and took the lead with a fabulous goal two minutes later. Bale was at the heart of it, releasing Roberts with a clever touch. Wilson’s dummy allowed Bale to collect Roberts’ return pass and slide it through for Wilson, who scored past Thibaut Courtois.
There is a reason Belgium are top of the FIFA rankings, though, and they soon took control and should have levelled when Lukaku steered De Bruyne’s cross over from four yards.
De Bruyne took matters into his own hands and scored with a glorious 25-yard strike which swerved beyond Danny Ward and went in off the post.
Belgium took the lead in the 28th minute when Roberts slipped at the vital moment as he tried to defend Thomas Meunier’s cross, allowing Hazard to plant a free header beyond Ward. They sealed victory when Chris Mepham’s clumsy challenge felled Dries Mertens inside the box and Lukaku sent Ward the wrong way from the spot.
Page said: ‘I’m really proud of the second-half performance. Until the penalty we were toe to toe with the world’s No 1 team.’
Bale’s dream of reaching a World Cup has become harder ahead of next week’s meeting with the Czech Republic. De Bruyne, meanwhile, will already be thinking about winning it.
BELGIUM (3-4-2-1): Courtois 5.5; Alderweireld 6, Vermaelen 5.5 (Denayer 46min, 6), Vertonghen 6; Meunier 6.5, Dendoncker 6.5, Tielemans 7, T Hazard 7 (Castagne 84); DE BRUYNE 7.5, Mertens 7 (Trossard 90); Lukaku 6.5. Scorers: De Bruyne 22, Hazard 28, Lukaku 73 (pen). Booked: Hazard. Manager: Roberto Martinez 6.5. WALES (3-4-3): Ward 6; Mepham 5.5, J Lawrence 6, Rodon 6.5; Roberts 6.5, Allen 6 (Morrell 8, 5.5), Ampadu 6, N Williams 5; Bale 6.5 (Moore 84), Wilson 7 (Roberts 67, 6), James 6. Scorer: Wilson 10. Manager: Robert Page 6. Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey) 6.