Bellingham salvages draw for England
ENGLAND BELGIUM 2 2
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 Youri Tielemans punished firsthalf errors either side of Ivan Toney’s penalty, only for Bellingham to secure a 2-2 draw in stoppage-time.
The England boss has plenty of food for thought after a night of promise and problems, which started with John Stones limping off and Tielemans capitalising on a Jordan Pickford 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 ball allowed Romelu Lukaku to superbly cross for Tielemans to head Belgium back ahead.
England responded impressively after the break but looked set to fall short until Bellingham’s stoppage-time strike.
They conceded an avoidable opener when Pickford, normally so reliable with his kicking, saw a low pass forwards cut out by Everton team-mate Amadou Onana, with Tielemans smartly lasering low past the panicked goalkeeper.
The embarrassed England No.1’s relief was palpable when Toney levelled in the 17th minute.
A clumsy Jan Vertonghen challenge on the Brentford striker led referee Sebastian Gishamer to point to the spot, and Toney sent
Matz Sels the wrong way.
A Phil Foden corner was nodded on by Dunk for Bowen to glance in a header, only for VAR to rule out his first England goal for offside, and the hosts were punished in the 36th minute.
Dunk failed to stop Romelu Lukaku reaching Tielemans’ diagonal ball, and 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.
Southgate’s side pushed to equalise again and would finally find a way in the dying embers.
Substitute James Maddison played back for Bellingham to take a touch and lash home to the delight of those left at Wembley.