Last-gasp Bellingham strike rescues England
Jude Bellingham struck at the death to salvage England a deserved draw against Belgium on a night of impressive auditions in the final match before Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 selection.
Three days on from the late loss to Brazil, the absentee-hit Euro 2020 runners-up faced another high-level test as the side third in FIFA’S world rankings hosted the team in fourth.
England were heading for another Wembley defeat after Youritielemanspunishedfirsthalf errors either side of Ivan Toney’s penalty, only for Bellingham to secure a 2-2 draw in stoppage time.
Toney did well on his first start, as did fellow full debutants
Ezri Konsa and, in particular, 18-yearold Kobbie Mainoo in the final friendly before Southgate namesanexpandedeuros squad on May 21.
Theenglandbosshasplentyof food for thought after a night of promise and problems, which started with John Stones limping off and Tielemans capitalising on goalkeeper Jordan Pickford’s error in a nightmare first 11 minutes.
England rallied and quickly levelled as Toney converted the penalty he won, before Jarrod Bowen saw a first international goal ruled out for offside.
Southgate’s side continued strongly, but Lewis Dunk’s failed attempt to cut out a long ballallowedromelulukakuto superblycrossfortielemansto head Belgium back ahead. England responded impressively after the break but looked set to fall short until Bellingham’s stoppage-time strike.
Southgate’s delight was clear at theendofanightthat started with Stones limping off, just as Manchester City team-mate Kyle Walkerhaddoneagainstbrazil.
That bad start got worse as England conceded an avoidable opener.
Pickford, normally so reliable with his kicking, saw a low pass forward cut out by Evertonteam-mateamadouonana, with Tielemans smartly lasering low past the panicked goalkeeper.
The embarrassed England number one’s relief was palpable when Toney levelled in the 17th minute.
Mainoo showed great awareness and confidence to play into Bellingham,whoseballthrough to the Brentford striker led to a clumsy Jan Vertonghen challenge.
Referee Sebastian Gishamer pointed to the spot and Toney superbly sent Matz Sels the wrong way. Bellinghaminexplicablyblazed overfromcloserangeasimpressive Mainoo won the ball deep in Belgium territory – a big miss thevisitorswerepunishedforin the 36th minute.
Dunk went to ground trying to deal with a diagonal ball forward from Tielemans, but the centre-back failed in his attempt to stop Lukaku reaching it. The Belgium striker sent over an exquisite cross with the outside of his boot, which Tielemans met with a diving header. A sucker punch that gave Belgium a half-time lead.
England returned from the break without names on the back of their shirts as part of a campaign to raise awareness of dementia in Tuesday’s Alzheimer’s Society International.
Belgiumsubstitutedodilukebakiohadachancetopunishthe hosts in stoppage time, when England would finally find a way. Substitute James Maddison played back for Bellingham totakeatouchandlashhometo the delight of those left.