WALES went down to the world’s number one ranked side despite a brave effort in Belgium.
Harry Wilson put the Dragons in front but goals from Kevin de Bruyne, Thorgan Hazard and a Romelu Lukaku penalty ensured the Red Devils claimed the points.
GOODNIGHT FROM BELGIUM
That’s all from Leuven where Belgium – the number one ranked team in the world – have their revenge on Wales for their quarter-final defeat at Euro 2016.
Kevin De Bruyne, Thorgan Hazard and Romelu Lukaku did the damage for Roberto Martinez’s men, who were stunned into action by Harry Wilson’s exquisite opener.
The Belgians are in World Cup qualifying action again in the Czech Republic on Saturday while Wales get the chance to get their campaign up and running against the same opposition on Tuesday.
That’s all from us for tonight, but here’s the match report from this evening’s action in case you need some late night reading before bed.
ROB’S REACTION
Speaking post-match in Belgium, Wales caretaker coach Rob Page has stated that he believes there were lots of positives for his side to take tonight ahead of their upcoming games.
We knew going into the game that they’d have large parts of possession. I thought we scored a wonderful goal against the top team in the world. I’m disappointed to concede the goals in the manner we did, and I told the lads that if you give top teams half a chance you’ll get punished and we absolutely did. We made some changes at half-time, and in the second half, I thought there was a tremendous amount of positives.
Rob Page
EDWARDS OPTIMISTIC
Former Wales international Dave Edwards believes there are reasons to be cheerful by his country’s performance this evening despite defeat.
DE BRUYNE DOMINATES
Kevin De Bruyne impressed as per usual as he clocked up 90 minutes in the Belgium midfield.
TOBY SMUG
One Belgium defender has already posted his delight at tonight’s victory.
RED DEVILS RUN CONTINUES
Another home game, another win for the Belgians.
CZECH MATE
Elsewhere in Group E this evening, the Czech Republic have thumped Estonia 6-2 in Lublin.
Jaroslav Silhavy’s team are the early leaders of the group, and now face Belgium in Prague on Saturday before travelling to Cardiff to play Wales on Tuesday.
FULL TIME STATS
Belgium win 3-1, and also had three times as many attempts on goal (12) as the Welsh (4). Half of the Belgium’s 12 attempts came from outside the box.
The Red Devils also enjoyed close to 75%.
FT: BELGIUM 3-1 WALES
The number one ranked team in the world begin their campaign for Qatar 2022 with a win against the Welsh. It’s a role reversal of the Euro ’16 quarter-final with Belgium this time being the team to come from a goal down to win 3-1. Kevin De Bruyne, Thorgan Hazard and a Romelu Lukaku penalty saw Roberto Martinez’s men to victory despite them falling behind to Harry Wilson’s sensational opener.
PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
THERE GOES THE FINAL WHISTLE!BELGIUM 3-1 WALES
90+2. Roberto Martinez is eager to get Leandro Trossard on, but the ball just won’t go out of play.
Eventually, Tielemens boots over Williams so the Brighton man can replace Dries Mertens.
He’ll get a good three seconds on the pitch.
BELGIUM 3-1 WALES
90. As two minutes of injury time are signalled by the fourth official, Moore is sent scampering into the Belgium area.
The substitute looks up, but with no options in the middle, lays a pass back to Roberts, whose subsequent cross is blocked.
BELGIUM 3-1 WALES
87. Mertens lines up a long shot but it’s straight down the throat of Ward.
BELGIUM 3-1 WALES
85. Wales force a corner, tossed into a packed penalty area from the left, but the referee blows up for a foul on the goalkeeper before Mepham has the chance to set up a frantic final five minutes.
BELGIUM 3-1 WALES
83. A couple of substitutions as the game meanders towards a conclusion.
Tim Castagne comes on for the hosts with the Leicester man replacing Thorgan Hazard while Kieffer Moore comes on for Gareth Bale.
BELGIUM 3-1 WALES
81. By the way, that was Lukaku’s 58th goal for his country but his first against Wales in his fifth appearance against them. It was his 13th shot in those five games against the Welsh.
BELGIUM 3-1 WALES
79. Roberto Martinez’s men are chasing a fourth goal here as Wales tire.
A cross from the right is almost headed in a the far post by Lukaku but Mepham and Lawrence combine to clear.
BELGIUM 3-1 WALES
76. There’s a set to on the near touchline as Roberts and Hazard square up to each other.
The Swansea man has wound up the Belgian on a couple of occasions this evening, and he’s finally blown his fuse.
The situation is calmed down by players and staff before referee Cuneyt Cakir issues a yellow card to Hazard.
BELGIUM 3-1 WALES
73. Romelu Lukaku has his goal!
The Belgian striker sends Danny Ward the wrong way from the penalty spot, stuttering on his run up before placing a left-footed effort into the bottom right corner.
It was a penalty awarded after Chris Mepham had swung a clumsy boot at a loose ball punched out by Ward, but instead made contact with Dries Mertens arriving late in the box.
It’s another defensive mistake from the Welsh, and it will surely mean an opening day win for Belgium.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL!!
ROMELU LUKAKU CONVERTS FROM THE SPOT!!MEPHAM SWINGS A BOOT AT MERTENS!
PENALTY TO BELGIUM!
BELGIUM 2-1 WALES
70. Lukaku is caught offside.
The striker has been in sensational goalscoring form for Belgium in the past year, netting 12 times in his last ten internationals, but has had an extremely frustrating night here.
So far.
BELGIUM 2-1 WALES
67. Another change for Wales as Leeds’ Tyler Roberts replaces goalscorer Harry Wilson.
BELGIUM 2-1 WALES
66. Lukaku is denied a shot inside the Wales penalty area by a scrambling James Lawrence at the second attempt. The Belgium striker gets a second bite at the cherry, but by that time Wales are defending in numbers. De Bruyne fires a follow up wide.
BELGIUM 2-1 WALES
64. Bale tracks back and pays De Bruyne some close attention. The Belgian midfielder is as impressed by the Welshman’s presence as Zinedine Zidane.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
