Belgium 4-3 Wales at home in their World Cup qualifying match on Monday after losing their early lead to the visitors’ improbable comeback. Kevin De Bruyne saved the day with a game-winning goal two minutes from time.
World Cup Qualifier Group J: Belgium vs Wales Match Report
Before the Belgian talisman gave his team a potentially vital victory in the Group J qualifiers for the 2026 finals in North America, Wales fought back to even the score after Belgium had taken a 3-0 lead inside the opening half hour.
The match was marked by controversy, featuring two penalties and numerous extended VAR reviews.
Belgium’s all-time leading scorer, Romelu Lukaku, opened the scoring with a penalty in the 15th minute. This was followed by a goal from captain Youri Tielemans in the 19th minute and another from Jeremy Doku in the 27th minute.
Wales Comeback Goals: Wilson, Thomas, Johnson
Wales scored a goal right before halftime with a penalty from Harry Wilson and then changed the outcome of the match with second-half goals from Sorba Thomas and Brennan Johnson.
However, in the 88th minute, De Bruyne ghosted in unmarked to get onto the end of a long cross from Tielemans from the opposite side of the pitch, and his back-post finish gave the home team much-needed respite.
Belgium First Penalty: Handball Decision
De Bruyne started the game with a point-blank drive that hit Johnson in the arm. Following a protracted VAR review, Lukaku scored Belgium’s 89th goal to give them the lead.
Just four minutes later, a sweeping transition from the right side to the left was initiated when De Bruyne intercepted the ball, which quickly resulted in the second goal for the home team, capped off by Tielemans scoring after receiving a square pass from Maxim De Cuyper.
Doku Solo Goal vs Wales Defense
After after, Doku scored the third goal on his own with a spectacular effort. He dribbled as he walked to the right flank, putting the opposition defenders to the test, then cut inside and hit a left-footed effort that Wales keeper Karl Darlow touched but could not stop.
A stunned Wales received a chance for redemption in stoppage time just before halftime when the home goalkeeper, Matz Sels, was deemed to have fouled Chris Mepham while trying to clear a set piece with a punch, and Wilson successfully converted the resulting penalty.
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