Browne bags late leveller as Ireland hold Belgium

Goals from Chiedozie Ogbene and Alan Browne saw Ireland twice come from behind against the number one-ranked side in the world to secure a well-earned 2-2 draw with Belgium at the Aviva Stadium.

Michy Batshuayi handed the visitors the lead against the run of play in the 12th minute before Ogbene equalised in style nine minutes before the break.

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The stylish, if underperforming, visitors then went ahead again in the 59th minute as Hans Vanaken header home from a corner.

However, Stephen Kenny's side never stopped believing and grabbed a deserved leveller four minutes from time as substitute Browne crashed a header home to share the spoils in front of a boisterous full house at the Lansdowne Road arena.

A bright Ireland start in sparkling spring sunshine, the orange trimming on the latest Umbro edition apt for the occasion – the front three of Ogbene, Jason Knight and Callum Robinson bringing the energy in the opening exchanges, keeping the play inside the Belgium half for extended spells.

Thorgan Hazard's cross-field ball, that went out for a throw-in, summed up the first ten minutes for Roberto Martinez's side.

And then, out of nothing, Belgium took the lead, as Batshuayi picked up the ball wide on the left after Hans Vanaken helped the ball across midfield.

With seemingly nothing on, Batshuayi casually skipped inside the approaching Seamus Coleman and cut between the Everton man and the retreating Matt Doherty, before unleashing a stinging curled effort that flew past Caoimhin Kelleher into the far corner.

In truth, the goal knocked the confidence right out of the Ireland side as the visitors started to take control of the game, with their accurate and varied passing stretching Stephen Kenny’s side.

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